Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Sept. 3, 2012) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team fell down 3-0 at Illinois Monday, but were unable to fight all the way back in dropping an afternoon match to the Illini, 3-1, at Illinois Soccer Stadium.

The Panthers (1-3-1) fell for the third-straight match, while Illinois got back in the win column after dropping its first match of the season last weekend.

We took a step forward from last weekend and it shows in the stats all the way through," UWM head coach "Our team shape was better today and we had a good week of training. What we put in in training was reflected out there today. We would have liked to have gotten a better result, but this was a strong opponent."

Despite trailing 3-0, Milwaukee did not lose its fight. In fact, as the game went on, the Panthers found more offensive cohesion and struck for its lone score in the 69th minute.

The play started on a throw-in to Amy Kauffung, who slipped past her defender inside. She found Kelsey Holbert in the box and Holbert moved into the penalty area and slotted a centering pass to the middle where Kelly Lewers one-timed in her first goal of the season.

UWM also had a key opportunity when Kauffung's blast at the far post upper 90 was snared by Illinois keeper Steph Panozzo.

Illinois got on the board in the 21st minute when Nicole Denenberg split a pair of defenders to get into the box and slotted her shot inside the far post. The Illini would get what proved to be the game winner just after halftime on a ball played into the box and headed around before Taylore Peterson's header found the back of the goal.

Marissa Holden provided insurance, blasting a shot from 25 yards out inside the near post in the 61st minute.

Jamie Forbes played in goal for Milwaukee and made four saves in the much, including a pair of tremendous stops--one in each half. Panozzo finished with three saves to keep the Panthers at bay.

The schedule for UWM continues against two more teams from the Big Ten. The Panthers play at Purdue Friday before returning home to host nationally-ranked Wisconsin Sept. 12.