Aug. 22, 2011

Match Report

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Junior Cody Banks scored the only goal in the first half and the defense did the rest to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory in its exhibition opener against Lewis University Monday afternoon.

"I think it was a typical preseason game," UWM head coach Chris Whalley said. "There were mistakes by both teams. I don't feel like we were at our sharpest but scored a very good goal. I felt for the most part we dominated the game with our possession. We're still ironing out some creases and need to get ourselves a little bit sharper, but all in all, I think it was a decent show from the boys."

Official statistics were not kept, but UWM unofficially led the shots category 10-to-6, including 5-to-3 in shots on goal. The Panthers also had three of the game's four corner kicks. Junior starter John Shakon (approximately 70 minutes) made one save, freshman Josh Rohde (20 minutes) made one stop and freshman defender Adam Hutchinson made a late team save at the goal line to preserve the 1-0 shutout.

After a slow start to the game, the Milwaukee offense finally started to get on track. Banks recorded the first shot of the contest for either team about 10 minutes in, putting a 10-yard header on goal off a long cross from senior Robert Refai.

The two teams squared off at the Flyers new soccer field, netting the first goal at a facility that has yet to even have a scoreboard up and running. About 20 minutes into the match, junior Ryan Whitehead picked up a ball near midfield and, after taking a few touches to avoid defenders, found Banks in the center. Banks took a quick touch and fired a shot on goal, scoring over the goalkeeper's head on an attempt from over 35 yards out.

The Milwaukee defense played a solid game and did not even allow a shot on goal in the first half. Shakon came up big the only time he needed to, coming off his line to make a save on a long breakaway attempt from Lewis' Eduardo Acxer Way about 17 minutes into the second half.

With about seven minutes remaining, Rohde made a brilliant diving save of a shot by Aloisio Barros. It was Barros again just moments later, getting an attempt on the open goal that was cleared off the line by Hutchinson.

Milwaukee officially starts the regular season next, welcoming IPFW to Engelmann Stadium Friday with a 4:30 p.m. kick off.