Oct. 27, 2010

Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin scored a pair of early goals in a span of 31 seconds Wednesday night to hand the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team a 2-0 loss in less-then-ideal conditions at McClimon Soccer Complex. The Panthers (5-8-2) once again outshot their opponent, but the Badgers (2-11-2) took advantage of the two early goals and held on. The game was played in 40-degree weather with winds gusting constantly to over 40 miles an hour.

"I think it was obviously very difficult to pass the ball and it affected the way we played," UWM head coach Chris Whalley said. "But the wind doesn't mean you don't play with heart and passion and in the first half we didn't."

After a back-and-forth start where both teams seemed to be feeling out the playing conditions, Wisconsin struck first with a goal by Nick Janus at the 8:57 mark. Just 31 seconds later, Joey Tennyson made it 2-0 and gave UW control.

"This was by far and away our worst performance of the season," Whalley said. "I am very, very disappointed in the way we played in a game that would be important, playing against an in-state rival. The guys just didn't seem up for it and ready to go, especially in the first half. The second half was a little better, but, ultimately, in games like this, when it's not ideal conditions and it's cold, you have to scrap, battle and fight. And we didn't do a very good job of that today."

The Panthers tried to claw back in it and had a couple of solid chances in the 20th and 21st minutes. Junior Ross Van Osdol used a nice touch to feed freshman Robbie Boyd for a run, but UW keeper Max Jentsch came off his line and just beat him to the ball. A minute later, sophomore Cody Banks set up Van Osdol for a strike from the top of the box, but the ball went begging off the cross bar and back into play.

The weather conditions really limited chances for both sides all evening. UWM was the aggressor in the second half, recording five of the seven shots in the frame. The Panthers had a solid crack at it in the 84th minute following a corner kick, but freshman Edison Crespo's shot was blocked and freshman James Ashcroft had his attempt saved at the post.

For the game, UWM held advantages of 9-to-7 in shots and 6-to-2 in corner kicks. It was also whistled for 13 of the 25 fouls in the match, with sophomore goalkeeper John Shakon making three saves in defeat.

Up next is a crucial Horizon League match for Milwaukee. Sitting in sixth place, the Panthers welcome Wright State University to Engelmann Field Saturday, starting at 7 p.m.