The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team has a pair of road games to close out the month of October, one a non-conference affair against the Wisconsin Badgers and the other a league clash with Valparaiso University with major ramifications on the final standings.

Game times Wednesday and Saturday are both set for 7 p.m. starts. Both will have live statistics available on the UWM website and the road battle against the Crusaders will have a live video webcast on the Horizon League Network. The matchup with Wisconsin will also have a fee-based video option available.

Milwaukee is dead even with both opponents all time, holding a 16-16-7 ledger against the Badgers and a 4-4-2 mark against Valpo. The last matchup against UW came in the first round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago, with the Panthers season ending on a 1-0 decision.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:
WISCONSIN: The Badgers, coming off their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 18 years, have fallen on tough times and will bring a 2-9-2 record into play midweek. The team has been in most of its matches in 2014, however, losing five matches by a one-goal deficit and also claiming two draws.

Mark Segbers leads the team with four goals and four assists, while Tom Barlow is second with 11 points (4G/3A). Goalkeeper Adrian Remeniuk is 2-6-1 with 30 saves and a 1.59 goals-against average.

VALPARAISO: The Crusaders are having a fine season, posting an 8-3-3 overall record to go along with a 3-2-0 mark in league play. In addition, the team is 3-1-1 at home and has been ranked in a handful of the national polls so far this season, peaking at 22nd in last week's Soccer America Top 25 poll and 25th in Top Drawer Soccer's poll.

The stingy defense has allowed just 11 goals in 14 games, led by goalkeeper Nico Campbell and his 0.72 goals-against average and .808 save percentage (five shutouts). Jordan Aidoud leads the offense with 12 points (four goals/four assists), with a trio of others netting three goals each.

LAST WEEK
The Panthers had a pair of games, falling 2-0 to first-place Oakland at home before earning a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over UIC on the weekend. Junior Declan Rodriguez scored a pair of goals to help Milwaukee to the win.

STANDINGS UPDATE
The Panthers will need to finish strong to grab a spot in the top six of the conference standings and earn a spot in the Horizon League Tournament. The team is currently tied with UIC for sixth place with seven points, but the Flames have played one less game than UWM. Oakland (5-0-1, 16 points) leads the way at this point, with Detroit (4-1-0, 12) firmly in second. Then it gets interesting, as third through seventh are separated by just two points. Valparaiso (3-2-0, 9), Cleveland State (3-2-0, 9), Wright State (3-3-0, 9) are all tied, followed by the Flames (2-2-1, 7) and Panthers (2-3-1, 7).

BELL HONORED
Senior Laurie Bell was named one of the 10 finalists for the Senior Class Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 30 men's candidates and 30 women's candidates announced in September. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner. Fans are encouraged to vote on the Senior CLASS Award website through November 24.

ROUGH PATCH
After starting the season with a 3-1 mark after four games - which earned them a spot of sixth in the NSCAA Great Lakes region and also receiving votes in the national polls - the Panthers hit a rough spot over the next eight games. Both sides of the ball struggled, with the offense scoring five times and the defense allowing 19 goals in that 0-6-2 stretch.

SPEAKING OF THAT SCHEDULE
The Panthers certainly had their hands full with the strength of their schedule prior to the start of league play in 2014. In addition to playing teams that were ranked No. 19 (George Mason) and No. 22 (American) at the time, UWM took on No. 17 Marquette Sept. 17. On top of that, Milwaukee played an Oregon State team that ended up nationally-ranked and matched up with a Creighton squad (a 0-0 draw in the exhibition season) that was as high as the No. 2 team in the land.

In fact, that recent stretch marks a program first. Never before had Milwaukee played three consecutive games against ranked opponents. The most prior was two and has occurred on just a pair of occasions: UWM played No. 23 UIC in the league tournament championship and then No. 19 Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament just last season. The only other prior occurrence was in the NCAA's in the 2004 postseason, defeating No. 20 San Francisco before falling to No. 1 UC Santa Barbara.

HOW'S THAT FOR FIRST IMPRESSIONS?
The freshmen class is one of the biggest in recent memory and did not take long to make quite the impression for the Panthers. So far, the freshmen have accounted for 11 of 15 team goals scored and a decent percentage of all of the points scored (28 of 51) by the team. Reid Stevenson (4G/1A) and Petter Ingebrigtsen (4G/1A) lead the team with nine points each and Nick Moon has found the back of the net twice to go with two assists (6 points).

CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Laurie Bell has a good chance to leave a lasting mark on the UWM record books following his senior campaign. Heading into 2014, he was on pace to crack the Top 10 in career points (entered at 58, now has 65 ... No. 10 is 72) and goals (28; has 25), had an outside chance to make the Top 10 in career assists and was already No. 9 in career shots with 179. He now has 236 (including a league-best 57 so far in 2014) attempts to inch up to fourth, with the No. 1 spot being 279 by Pete Knezic (1977-80).

NETMINDER DEBUTS
Junior Agustin Rey finally got his chance to make his UWM collegiate debut, earning the victory with six saves against Gonzaga Sept, 7. He made a key save in the final minutes and helped defend three Bulldog corner kicks in the final 90 seconds to seal the win.

GOAL! .... AND AGAIN!
Freshman Petter Ingebrigtsen scored the first goal of the season for UWM against DePaul and then added an insurance strike in the 2-0 win over Drake. In doing so, he became the fifth freshman since 2000 to score in the season opener, joining Antou Jallow (2001), Adam Skalecki (2005), Edison Crespo (2010) and Declan Rodriguez (2012) on that list. He also became just the third-ever freshman to score in the first two games of the season.

THE SECOND GOAL
Going back to Kris Kelderman's arrival, the Panthers have had much success in recording numerous shot opportunities in games. Converting those into goals, especially second goals in matches, has been a key. If Milwaukee tallied two goals in 2013, it was a foregone conclusion. UWM went 12-0 last season when scoring at least two goals (7-0 when scoring twice, 5-0 when scoring three or more).

YEAR TWO IMPROVEMENTS
In his first season as head coach in 2012, Kris Kelderman achieved numerous milestones that had not been seen in quite some time for the Panthers. Fast-forward to year number two, and he took the program to new heights. Two examples that stick out: UWM scored 23 goals and won eight games in 2012. A year ago, the team posted 15 victories and 39 goals.

In his first two seasons, he compiled a record of 23-11-4, helping return UWM to its glory years. In the prior six seasons before Kelderman's arrival, the overall record was 32-64-17 in that span; with five of those six campaigns including more than 10 losses each.

WELCOME TO MILWAUKEE
There will be plenty of chances for newcomers to make an impression in 2014, as 10 players out of the 23 on the roster will be making their UWM debuts this year.

EXHIBITION SEASON REWIND
Milwaukee played a pair of exhibition contests this year, playing to a 0-0 draw against a quality Creighton squad and a 2-2 tie against Parkside. Senior Laurie Bell scored both goals in the UWP contest, helping the Panthers overcome a 2-1 deficit. In goal, sophomore Liam Anderson (0.00 GAA in 73:28, three saves) and junior Agustin Rey (0.00 GAA in 75:28, seven saves) saw the majority of action.

THE BATTLE FOR THE MILWAUKEE CUP
Milwaukee and Marquette play for the "Milwaukee Cup", one of the longest-standing rivalries in all of college soccer. In fact, in the summer of 2011, the College Soccer News website published a list of what they called "The Fourteen Greatest Rivalries in College Soccer." Weighing in at No. 10 on their list was the Milwaukee Cup. The Panthers certainly have the upper hand all-time, having now posted a 28-11-3 record in the series. They also posted back-to-back wins very recently, reclaiming the Cup in 2010 with a 4-2 victory and keeping possession in 2011 with a 2-1 final score.

The 2013 edition was just as exciting, with the Panthers scoring just 60 seconds into the affair en route to a 2-1 victory over a Marquette squad that was ranked No. 12 at the time. The 2012 matchup will also go down in the memory books, as the Golden Eagles, trailing the Panthers 2-1 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the contest, pulled off a stunning finish to grab possession of the Cup. Following a goalkeeper miscue, Marquette found the equalizer at the 81:53 mark and then won the contest at the buzzer as the winning goal crossed the line at the 89:59 mark before the horn sounded.

BELL GETTING PLENTY OF ATTENTION
Senior Laurie Bell enjoyed a breakthrough campaign a season ago and was rewarded with numerous postseason honors, including Horizon League Player of the Year and NSCAA All-American status in a season in which he ranked among the top 15 in the country in both points and goals.

Fast-forward to this preseason and the honors and accolades rolled in for the Poynton, England, product. Bell was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list and a member of the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason First-Team Best XI as well as No. 8 on the Top 100 NCAA Players by the same organization.

The MAC Hermann Trophy is the most prestigious individual award in NCAA soccer presented annually to one male and one female athlete.

COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS TABS TRIO
Three Panthers earned some national recognition when the website "College Sports Madness" announced its Preseason All-Horizon League squads. Listed among the 22 members of the first and second team were seniors Laurie Bell and Luke Goodnetter on the first team and sophomore Liam Anderson on the second team.

THE ROAD TO THE TITLE
The Panthers claimed a pair of 2-0 victories in the Horizon League Tournament to earn the berth into the NCAA Tournament in 2013. They started with a win over Oakland, with Laurie Bell opening the scoring early with a pretty goal that banged in off the far post. Andrew Stone then netted an insurance tally in the 38th minute. After four hours of delays and even a change in venue, the Panthers claimed the tournament crown with a 2-0 win over No. 23 UIC Sunday night. After the weather played a large role keeping the contest scoreless until after intermission, Luke Goodnetter assisted goals on set pieces with Stone heading in the game-winner on a 51st minute corner kick and Declan Rodriguez heading in the back-breaker in the 67th minute off a long free kick. Stone earned Horizon League Tournament MVP for his efforts. He was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Bell, Goodnetter and Aaron Cranfill.

LEAGUE TOURNAMENT REFRESHER
After winning four straight Horizon League Tournament titles from 2002 to 2005 and posting an impressive 12-0 mark in that span, the Panthers had been unable to advance past the first round of the league postseason up until 2013. The team had dropped six straight in league tournament play, including a 1-0 loss at Valparaiso in Kris Kelderman's first season a year ago. That all changed in 2013, with Kelderman now holding a 2-1 career mark in league postseason action.

BELL LEADS HORIZON LEAGUE HONORS
Laurie Bell was named the Horizon League Player of the Year in 2013. He was tabbed a first-team all-league selection for the second-straight season as well as earning the Offensive Player of the Year award. Bell leads the league with 13 goals and 30 points, becoming the first UWM player to earn player of the year honors since Antou Jallow in 2004. He was joined on the first team by Andrew Stone. In addition, Robbie Boyd and Luke Goodnetter were honored as part of the second-team squad.

RANKINGS TOPPLE
The Panthers played three teams ranked in the Top 25 of the NSCAA National poll last season and beat two of them. In addition to the 2-0 defeat of a UIC team that was ranked No. 23 Nov. 17, Milwaukee also knocked off then 12th-ranked Marquette, 2-1, in the season opener. The last time UWM beat as many as two ranked teams in the same season was back in 2003 when they knocked off No. 22 New Mexico, 1-0, and No. 21 Akron, 2-1.

ANDERSON TOUGH TO BREAK
Goalkeeper Liam Anderson had to win the open battle for the starting position in preseason a year ago. Needless to say, he certainly earned a hold on the spot with his play last season. He was the Horizon League Player of the Week in early September and, if not for the fact that regular-season league champ UIC's starting goalkeeper was also a freshman, would have certainly been in line for numerous postseason honors. His 0.63 goals against average ranked as the third-best in the history of the program (Grant Fernstrum 0.47 in 2005 and Chris Dadaian 0.54 in 2002) and he tied the season record with 10 shutouts (equaling Fernstrum in 2005 and Jon Mroz in 1990). Anderson has posted four shutouts in a row heading into the NCAA's and he helped UWM break the season mark for team GAA (his was 0.63 playing 100 percent of the minutes and the school record was 0.67 set in 2002).

QUICK STARTS
Looking at the statistics, one of the keys to UWM's great season in 2013 was a strong start nearly each time out. In 17 of the 20 contests the team played, the Panthers scored first. They held the lead at halftime in 12 of those games. In addition, they outshot their opponents in 16 of the 20 matches.

MILWAUKEE'S VERSION OF "5 GUYS"
The Panthers had five players on the roster in 2013 that recorded more than 10 points each - the first time that has happened since the 2005 campaign. In fact, going back the previous seven years, UWM has had more than one player with 10-plus points just once (2011), otherwise it has been just one (or zero, in 2009) in that stretch.

The list included Laurie Bell with 30 points (13G/4A), Rami Younes with 13 (3G/7A), Robbie Boyd with 11 (3G/5A), Aaron Horvat with 10 (5G) and Luke Goodnetter with 10 (2G/6A) as well.

PERFECT 10
Laurie Bell scored 13 goals over the course of the 2013 season. That tally ranked ninth in the NCAA and also led the Horizon League. In addition, he ranked 14th in the country with 30 points. Getting to double-digits makes him the first Panther with at least 10 goals since Antou Jallow found the back of the net 18 times in 2004.

TOPPING THE HORIZON
The Panthers were clicking on both sides of the ball in 2013 and a look at the Horizon League statistics is easy proof of that. As a team, UWM ranked first in points (116), goals (39), goals-per-game (2.05), assists (38), assists per game (2.00) and shots (16.7 per game) on offense while also topping the conference in fewest goals allowed and GAA (0.63). That success translated at the national level as well. UWM was 13th in total points at the NCAA DI level, as well as 12th in total goals, 12th in total assists, 10th in scoring offense and seventh in team GAA.

GIMME FIVE ... AGAIN
After not scoring five goals in a game since 2004, the Panthers have accomplished the feat twice in 2013 after the 5-0 win over Cleveland State Nov. 9 (they also scored five against Detroit Sept. 28), with the five-goal margin of victory the most since defeating CSU by an 8-0 tally in the league postseason at the end of the 2002 campaign.

UNBEATEN STREAK SNAPPED
At 9-0-1, the Panthers were unbeaten through 10 games for the first time since a 10-0-0 start in 1985. Following a season-opening win over nationally-ranked Marquette, UWM made its first appearance in the polls and rankings, checking in at No. 24 in the "Soccer America" poll, receiving votes in the "Soccer Times" poll as well as earning the No. 9 spot in the NSCAA Great Lakes Regional poll. That national ranking was UWM's first since the opening week of the 2003 campaign. The Panthers peaked in the rankings the week of October 7, placing third in the NSCAA Great Lakes Regional and 24th in the NSCAA national poll. They were also tabbed 21st in the "College Soccer News" poll, 22nd by "Top Drawer Soccer" and 24th by both "Soccer Times" and "Soccer America" that week.

CHALK UP A GOALIE ASSIST
The Panthers continue to add to the list of accomplishments in 2013 that make fans say, "So when was the last time that happened?"  Against Wright State Oct. 5 it was then-freshman goalkeeper Liam Anderson, who followed up a 59th-minute save with a long goal kick. That kick went over the WSU back line, with Rami Younes running onto it to score a goal and give Anderson the assist. The last time a UWM keeper had an assist was in September of 2006, when Grant Fernstrum's goal kick turned into an assist on a 90th-minute tally against IPFW.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE
Milwaukee has a great history for the men's soccer program, but 2013 will go down as one of the best starts in the 40-plus years that it has been around. With its 9-0-1 record before a loss, the team was unbeaten through 10 games for the first time since the 1985 squad started 10-0. The best start ever also belongs to that 1985 team at 12-0.

BEST STARTS TO A SEASON BEFORE A LOSS:
1. 1985: 12-0
2. 2013: 9-0-1
3. 1996 & 1991: 7-0 ... 1974: 6-0-1
4. 1983 & 1980: 5-0-1
5. 1989: 5-0

STANDING ROOM ONLY
The crowd of 3,312 that witnessed Milwaukee's 2-1 victory over Marquette in last year's season opener was packed into Engelmann Stadium. In fact, the attendance total broke the former record of 3,256 set back in September of 2006 against the Golden Eagles. That contest in 2006 also marked the first-ever night game at Engelmann. Looking at the other three NCAA Division I schools in the state of Wisconsin, that game will go down as the highest-attended men's matchup in college history in the state. A look at the top attendance figures from the other schools includes the Wisconsin Badgers (2,470 in 1995), Marquette (2,089 in 2010) and Green Bay (1,218 in 2009).

START WITH A BANG
The goal by sophomore Declan Rodriguez to start the "Milwaukee Cup" victory Aug. 30 was one of the quickest to ever be scored in the 40-plus year history of the UWM program. The goal found the back of the net with the scoreboard frozen at 1:00, making the 60-second tally the seventh-fastest to start any game and the third-fastest for any Milwaukee home game.

BRING ON THE CUP
The "Milwaukee Cup" is one of the three traveling trophies that the Panthers play for each and every season. In addition, Milwaukee takes on Green Bay for the "Chancellor's Cup" and also play Northern Illinois for the "LeWang Trophy". In 2011, UWM posted wins in all three games (2-1 over Marquette; 3-2 in double-overtime against Green Bay and 1-0 against NIU) to hold all three trophies for the first time since the start of the 2005 campaign.

MORE WITH COACH KELDERMAN
Look for a weekly audio podcast of the "Kris Kelderman Show", as we sit down weekly with Kris to revisit the week that was and talk about the upcoming schedule. The show is available as a link off the main UWM website page or directly at www.uwmpanthers.cstv.com/genrel/podcasts.html.

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BENNETT
The website "Bennett Rank" (www.bennettranking.com) listed all 206 NCAA Division I men's soccer programs from top to bottom in the preseason, with Notre Dame coming it at No. 1 and Washington No. 2.

A look at all of the Horizon League schools showed a positive for the Panthers entering the 2014 season, as they were the highest-ranked league program according to the list.

74. Milwaukee
101. UIC
138. Wright State
152. Valparaiso
154. Green Bay
155. Oakland
156. Cleveland State
172. Detroit

ON TAP
The Panthers have a bye weekend before closing out the regular season with a home game against Detroit November 7. The match will also serve as "Senior Day" for UWM.