Oct. 26, 2013

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Kelsey Holbert's blast with just 3:40 remaining gave the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team a thrilling 3-2, comeback victory over Youngstown State University on Senior Day Saturday afternoon from Engelmann Stadium.

Krissy Dorre assisted on all three goals to help Milwaukee (7-8-1, 5-1-0 Horizon) came back from deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 to tie the game in the 79th minute before Holbert's goal in the 87th minute gave the Panthers the victory over the Penguins (4-11-1, 2-4-0).

"It's Senior Day. Why not have a little drama," Milwaukee head coach Greg Henschel said. "I was proud of them for the win and the fight they showed. That's something that's in this program. All the players and all the staff - we fight to the end for a full 90 minutes and I'm proud of the team for demonstrating that on Senior Day."

Youngstown State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after Allison Ludwig netted her first goal just 4:15 into the contest. Chelsey Haney got behind the Panther defense and fired a shot from just inside the box. UWM keeper Paige Lincicum made the initial save but the rebound fell right to the feet of Ludwig who put away the easy goal.

It didn't take long for Milwaukee to answer back, though. Morgan LaPlant brought the ball down the right wing and found Dorre in the middle of the field. Dorre took a touch before threading the needle to find Kelly Lewers streaking behind the defense and Lewers one-timed the ball far post for her third goal in the last two games.

Ludwig scored again, however, and the Penguins took a 2-1 lead into the halftime locker room.

After both teams struggle to get anything going most of the second half, it looked like it might not be UWM's day.

That all changed quickly.

At the 78:10 mark, Dorre again took a pass in the middle of the field and took a few touches before finding a streaking LaPlant, who took one touch in the box before burying her shot near post to knot the game up at 2 goals a piece.

With momentum on its side, the Panther attack was relentless in the final 10 minutes and seemingly would not be denied the winner.

Lewers started it all off after taking a feed just inside the center of the box. The junior kept the ball at her feet and drew numerous defenders around her before playing the ball back to Dorre, who one-touched it to Holbert. The captain fired the ball through the congested box and past a diving keeper into the far-side netting to give the Panthers the win.

Milwaukee outshot YSU 19-9 on the game and also held the edge in corners (4-2) and fouls (11-8). Penguin keeper Jackie Podolsky was credited with five saves while Lincicum made two in the win.

"We've got a great focus and a great ability to create a lot of high-quality chances," Henschel said. "I think of those 19 shots, I would say more than half of them were high-quality chances, which is something we work hard to create. And we're going to keep working to capitalize on those chances that we're creating. We're looking forward to our last Horizon League match and I'm very proud to see the seniors go out with a win today."

UWM sits atop the Horizon League with 15 points and has one game left on its schedule. The Panthers head to Detroit, Mich. Friday to take on Oakland University at Grizzlies at 6:30 p.m. Central Time.