Sept. 24, 2010

Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Freshman Robbie Boyd scored the game-winner in the first overtime to send the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Valparaiso University Friday night at Brown Field. The Panthers (2-3-2, 1-0-0 Horizon) scored early and led at the half against the Crusaders (5-1-1, 0-1-0 Horizon), who came into the game ranked No. 7 in the NSCAA Great Lakes Regional poll. Valpo tied it on a penalty kick, but Boyd's strike handed the Crusaders their first loss of the season by scoring on a great individual effort in the 97th minute.

"It's a great start to the league season, especially on the road." UWM head coach Chris Whalley said. "I think, today, we had a little bit of that luck that we haven't had yet this season and got out of the game what we deserved. Tonight we put ourselves in position to win the game and we did that, so it was very pleasing."

Boyd took a pass from sophomore Ryan Whitehead down the sideline and took a few touches to get past the first defender. After another touch, he pushed in from the end line, around another defender, and sent a short shot to the far post to give Milwaukee the win at the 96:55 mark.

"He's a hard-working kid and never gave up on the play," Whalley said. "He just kept going and had a great strike and deservedly got the game-winning goal. Ryan (Schwarz) is a good goalkeeper for them. He made a couple of nice saves, but we took our chances and were a bit more ruthless tonight."

The goal was the first of Boyd's collegiate career and gave the Panthers an overtime win for the first time this season. Tonight marked the fourth overtime game of the year for the squad, which is now 1-1-2 in extra time.

"I did get kind of lucky," Boyd said about the goal. "Whitey [Ryan Whitehead] played a really good ball down the line to me and they didn't go too hard, so I kept taking it to them. We got really unlucky in overtime a few times this year so all I could think of was putting that ball away. You feel like you really lifted up the whole team so that is the best part about it."

Overtime started with a break that finally went UWM's way. After chasing down a long ball, Valpo's Brendan Roth sent a shot past junior keeper Bryce Boyd, only to hit the far post and bounce back into play just 38 seconds into the period.

Whitehead substituted into the game in the 93rd minute and almost netted the golden goal just 53 seconds later. A nice buildup from senior Greg Rosenthal to sophomore Andrew Wiedabach left Whitehead with a chance from the right flank. His charging attempt clanged off the football upright that hung just above the soccer goal.

Rosenthal got things going early, scoring on a strong header off a free kick from the foot of junior Ross Van Osdol. The play happened in the sixth minute, when Van Osdol's 30-yard free kick found Rosenthal perfectly at the near post. His first goal of the year snapped a scoreless streak of 406:05 on the season for Valpo keepers, who came into the game second in the nation in goals against average at 0.16 after conceding just one goal in six games in 2010.

The Crusaders found a way to equalize in the 59th minute, taking advantage of a penalty kick to even the game. Stefan Antonijevic got loose for a breakaway chance, with Boyd coming off his line to challenge but getting called for a foul. Zack Stivers then netted the spot kick.

Boyd played well in the game when needed, but the UWM defense really limited Valpo to minimal chances in the game. Boyd recorded just two saves for the victory.

"Bryce may have gotten a bit unlucky on the PK," Whalley said. "He thought he got a bit of the ball and stepped up and did well for us on the night."

For the game, Milwaukee held advantages of 13-to-11 in shots and five-to-four in corner kicks. Both teams were whistled for 23 fouls. Rosenthal led the offense with five shots, with Wiedabach adding four more.

The Panthers host #17 Butler next, which is also 1-0 in league play after a 2-1 win over Green Bay this evening. That game has been moved from Engelmann Field and will be played at Concordia University Sunday afternoon, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m.