Sept. 4, 2010

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. - Sophomore goalkeeper John Shakon needed to make just one save in posting a shutout as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee earned a 0-0 tie against the University of New Hampshire at Bremner Field. The Panthers (1-0-1) had the run of play most of the night but could not convert against the Wildcats (0-0-1), who were hosting UWM in their season opener in the 21st Annual UNH Nike Fall Soccer Classic on Saturday night.

Milwaukee outshot New Hampshire, 14-to-11, in the contest and also by a count of six-to-one in shots on goal. The two teams combined for eight shots in the two overtime sessions, with sophomore Andrew Wiedabach, sophomore Ryan Whitehead and freshman Jordan Record each nearly giving the Panthers the victory.

"I think in a game like this, it's difficult to either be too high or too low," head coach Chris Whalley said. "We had a couple of chances to win the game, but their keeper made a couple of good saves and we hit the bar. But, ultimately, if you get into a game like this again, you get a little better luck and you move on and get the win. But, we are on the road, we haven't had a home game yet, and we are still unbeaten."

With less than two minutes remaining in the second overtime, Whitehead had a long throw in to the goal box, where Wiedabach was able to get a foot on it but sent it high. Whitehead also nearly had the game-winner in the 95th minute, but his close-range header off a corner kick from freshman Robbie Boyd was stopped with an impressive save by UNH's Colin O'Donnell at the far post. The Wildcats also had a pair of chances to win in extra time, but Jordan Thomas was not able to put either attempt on net.

Milwaukee had an opportunity to score near the end of regulation, but Record could not quite get enough on a touch from an end-line serve from senior Peter Sanger in the 83rd minute. The Panthers also avoided trouble in the 78th minute when Thomas hit the cross bar.

"I thought we looked really dangerous on our set pieces and we could have won the game with a set piece," Whalley said. "We didn't, so we just have to go back to the drawing board and work a little bit harder. We had 15 shots, on the road, against a team that won their conference last season, by a team that finished sixth in their conference last year. I feel we are making steps and getting better, but draws aren't good enough."

The first half was played well defensively by both teams, with Milwaukee pushing through for most of the offense in the final five minutes. In fact, UWM put up four of its five shots in the half in that span.

"Everyone is talking about our offense the way we have been scoring, but to be successful as a program we need to play defense and keep clean sheets," Whalley said. "And I think we did that tonight. Our offense wasn't firing tonight; we weren't passing well as we have done. But, we kept ourselves in the game with our back four and goalkeeper playing very well. As a team, we worked hard and well defensively."

Boyd took a pass on the flank of the box from Whitehead and, after a move around the defender, put a shot on goal that looked in, striking the cross bar and coming back into the field of play just before the half in the 44th minute.

Junior Ross Van Osdol followed with a quality header on a corner from about 12 yards that was saved. Senior Sol Caceres also had a crack at the halftime horn off a corner kick, but his attempt was pushed wide by O'Donnell.

Senior Greg Rosenthal hit Wiedabach on a breakaway in the 13th minute, with Wiedabach's attempt getting pushed wide right to get things started.

Shakon was called on to make just one save, with the back line of UWM's defense playing a vital role in limiting the Wildcats to just three shots in the period and only one on target in 110 minutes on the night.

Milwaukee will get to enjoy a day off before closing out the holiday weekend with a contest Monday. The team will play Vermont, which lost 1-0 to Central Connecticut State today, in a game set to kick off at 10 a.m. CST.