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COLUMBUS, Ohio (Aug. 20, 2010) - Nicole Sperl scored in the 80th minute to give the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team a 2-1 win over Ohio State Friday evening at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

The Panthers earned a win in the 2010 season opener for both teams. The Buckeyes entered the season receiving votes in the NSCAA National poll and was picked to finish second in the Big Ten.

"This was a fantastic start. You can't ask for anything better coming in to an adverse environment against a team coming off a huge year and we went two-to-toe with them. We got an early goal to go ahead and the way were pressing them, I thought it was fantastic."

Sarah Hagen scored less than two minutes into the game, but Ohio State did not back down, tying the score in the eighth minute and generating a number of scoring opportunities throughout the game. Sperl netted the game-winner and anchored a defense that held strong down the stretch.

The Buckeyes outshot UWM, 14-8, and the Panthers had to withstand a 9-1 deficit in corner kicks. OSU's first corner resulted in its only score.

Milwaukee's goalkeeping was spectacular with Leslie Deebach and Jamie Forbes splitting time and making three saves apiece. All three of Deebach's came up big on breakaway opportunities and limited the damage to just a goal in the opening half. Forbes came up with a big save of her own late and picked up the win.

"The defending, it takes time to get everyone on the same page, they got in behind us a couple of times in the first half and Leslie came up huge on a couple of breakaways. Once we changed things in the second, we eliminated some of that and Jamie came up huge with a couple stops of her own, as well."

Hagen picked up her 49th career goal in her 45th game early on when the Panthers were controlling play. She took a pass from Heather Roadhouse and dribbled across the field, through the box and beat the keeper far post.

OSU answered with a Paige Maxwell header on a corner kick, but Milwaukee had the last laugh.

Just like the first meeting between the teams in 2008, Sperl was the decider. Laurel Ragalie had a possession deep in the penalty area, when the ball was poked away. The keeper won the ball, but was outside the box and only able to clear to Sperl. She then chipped the defenseless keeper and a defender standing on the goal line from 25 yards out. Her shot lofted just under the cross bar.

Milwaukee continues it season-opening road trip at No. 4 Notre Dame Sunday. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. central time.