Sept. 16, 2011

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Freshman Nick Langford scored in the 82nd minute to give the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team a 1-0 lead, only to see Gardner-Webb University score a pair of goals in the final three and a half minutes to escape with a 2-1 victory Friday at the "Soccer for a Cure" Classic.

"Very, very disappointing performance today," UWM heads coach Chris Whalley said. "I didn't feel like we played the way we can play - didn't compete as well as we can physically. It was just an all-around disappointing performance. With eight minutes to go, Nick Langford scores a great goal, on the road, to give us a chance to win the game after playing poorly. And, sometimes, you get results like that. But then with four minutes to go, two defensive breakdowns and we just basically throw the game away. It was massively disappointing."

Up 1-0 very late in the contest, the Panthers (3-3-0) caught an unlucky break in the 87th minute when the Bulldogs (2-2-2) equalized at the 86:27 mark. Junior John Shakon made a save on a shot in the penalty area by GW's Chris Davis. The ball deflected to the far post, where Chijoke Akujuobi was by himself to make it 1-1.

Less than two minutes later, John Sargent netted the game-winner on a free kick, sending a 30-yard attempt to the upper left of the goal at the 88:38 mark. The Panthers pushed forward to try and find a late strike of their own, but could not break through.

"Gardner-Webb worked hard defensively," Whalley said. "They physically competed and were a lot tougher than us. Our guys didn't fight and scrap enough. We didn't have the ball enough. I don't think we possessed the ball as much as we have in the past and, because of that we didn't have the opportunity to make as many chances."

Scoreless until deep into the second half, Milwaukee had a handful of quality chances to break up the 0-0 match before Langford scored. Langford himself had a pair of opportunities, with one of them coming just a few minutes past intermission. Junior Cody Banks sent a long ball on goal, but Langford's attempt to chip the oncoming goalkeeper went wide.

Then, with about 30 minutes left, he sent a pass wide to Banks, who carried the ball forward before sending it into the box. The defender's attempt to clear nearly became an own goal, with the GW goalkeeper deflecting it back into play. Langford's follow-up just missed as well.

Sophomore James Ashcroft also just missed a header in the 59th minute, sending a free kick serve from freshman Gerardo Saavedra just wide at the near post.

Senior Keegan Ziada helped create the UWM goal, feeding Langford down the field. His first attempt was blocked by the defender before netting his second for the first goal of his collegiate career.

The Panthers went into the half scoreless despite being outshot, 8-to-1. The UWM defense was up to the task, however, as the large majority of GW shots were from distance, forcing Shakon into just a pair of easy saves before the half.

For the game, the Bulldogs did end up with the 18-to-6 advantage in shots, with each team taking four corner kicks. The Panthers were whistled for nine of the 24 fouls in the match. Langford had three of the six UWM shots in the game, with no other player recording more than one.

Shakon ended the game with six saves, with UWM credited with seven saves overall after Ashcroft cleared a late attempt off the line. Scott Krotee of Gardner Webb needed just one save for the win.

The Panthers will have Saturday off before closing out the weekend tournament against UAB Sunday. Kick off is set for 2:30 p.m.