Sept. 20, 2009

Box Score |  Quotes (Audio)

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team battled back from a two-goal deficit against Oakland University, but fell, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Field in the final game of the 36th Annual Panther Invitational. The Panthers (1-6-0) scored in the 51st and 79th minute to tie the match, only to see the Golden Grizzlies (3-3-1) net the eventual game-winner in the 80th minute and hold on from there.

Down 2-0 at intermission, Milwaukee came out a focused squad and got on the scoreboard at the 50:22 mark on a goal by junior Robert Refai. Junior Greg Rosenthal then tied the game at the 78:34 mark when he struck for his second goal of the season. The momentum was short-lived, however, as Stefan St. Louis hit the back of the net just 70 seconds later with his second goal of the game.

"We started out pretty slowly and looked a bit lethargic," UWM head coach Jon Coleman said. "It was kind of disappointing, especially at home, but we fought hard to come back in the second half. The guys worked hard and worked smart to get back into the game and then we allowed another opportunity to slip away. We just have to be better from top to bottom."

The Panthers did have the final shot on goal of the game, but freshman Cody Banks had his one-timer from the top of the 18-yard box on a well-placed cross from sophomore Zach Funk saved.

Freshman goalkeeper John Shakon was credited with four saves in the game, but each was highlight quality and kept Milwaukee in the game at the time.

In the 61st minute, he charged off his line and took a shot right off the foot of Shane Lyons. Then, in the 66th minute, he made a diving one-armed stop of a close-range header. Lastly, he made another save at the line in the 77th minute after coming off his line initially to punch away the free kick that was sent into the box.

Both of UWM's goals came off of set pieces and off rebounds of blocked shots in the goal box. Refai's came following a free kick from sophomore Ross Van Osdol. After a touch, freshman Matthew Bewley fired a close-range shot on net, only to have it blocked right to Refai, who finished from about five yards out.

The second goal was in a similar fashion, as a UWM corner kick ended up finding the foot of Van Osdol, who had his short attempt blocked. Rosenthal came streaking in from the top of the box and finished easily, rifling a 10-yard shot to the far post to make it 2-2 and a new game.

The tie was short-lived, as Oakland's St. Louis found himself in the right place at the right time, taking a deflection in the defensive third and tallying the game-winner at the 79:44 mark.

For the game, Milwaukee ended with a 17-to-11 lead in shots, while OU led in shots on target, 7-to-6. UWM was whistled for 15 of 27 fouls and forced six corner kicks to just one for the Grizzlies. Refai and Bewley each led the team with four shots each.

UC Santa Barbara and Wisconsin played to a 1-1 draw in the opener Sunday, giving the Gauchos the team championship and the Badgers the runner-up spot.

36th Annual Panther Invitational All-Tournament Team
Danny Barrera, UCSB - MVP
Martin Hedevag, UCSB
Wiad Ibrahim, UCSB
Luis Silva, UCSB
Brandon Miller, UW
Alex Horwath, UW
Eric Conklin, UW
Machel James, OU
Stefan St. Louis, OU
Greg Rosenthal, UWM
Robert Jarosz, UWM

UWM will open the conference season with a road trip to Ohio, taking on Butler and Wright State. Friday will be in Indianapolis to take on the Bulldogs at 4 p.m. EST, while Sunday's match against the Raiders is set for a noon EST kick-off.