Women's Soccer October 07, 2014

Panthers Face Key League Foes In Pivotal Week Of Action

Milwaukee looks to keep offense clicking

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Oct. 7, 2014) - It's another busy week for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team with two more Horizon League matchups on the schedule this week. The Panthers head to in-state rival Green Bay Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest with the Phoenix. That game will be shown on tape delay on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel Thursday night. Then it's back home for a Saturday contest with Wright State, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. from Engelmann Stadium.

Just the Facts...
• Kelly Lewers was named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week Monday after scoring a pair of goals in a win and a draw for Milwaukee last week. Lewers was also named the Horizon League Athlete of the Week by College Sports Madness.

• Green Bay is off to a 7-3-2 start to the season. That is already the most wins in a season for the Phoenix since the 2006 team finished 8-7-2.

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• Milwaukee has been clicking on offense of late, scoring two or more goals in six of their last eight games. That includes the five-goal outburst against crosstown rival Marquette.

• Wednesday's game against Green Bay will mark the third time Time Warner Cable will broadcast one of their games this season. Due to scheduling conflicts, the game will be rebroadcast on tape delay Thursday evening.

• UWM and Wright State have had some great games in recent memory. While Milwaukee leads the all-time series 21-8-5, a total of 18 of those contest have been decided by one goal or less, including the last three, all 1-0 games.

What's New?
The Panthers had a bit of mixed results last week after adding a win and a draw to the schedule column. Milwaukee took down regional-rival Illinois State, 2-1, in an exciting match Wednesday night before having to claw back for a 1-1 draw with Cleveland State Saturday. Now, it's off to Green Bay for a Wednesday contest with the Phoenix before a Saturday matchup against Wright State at Engelmann Stadium.

About Green Bay
Green Bay is off to one of its best starts in recent history under first-year coach Kacey Burke. The former U.S. National Team player and NCAA All-American has her team playing a different style than fans are seeing with the Phoenix leading the Horizon League in goals scored with 25 (2.08/game) almost more than the past two seasons combined (30).

A whopping 10 of those goals have come from junior forward Heidi Hartmann, while four other players have at least two goals on the season. In net, Nastacia Behle has started 11 of the team's 14 games, posting an 0.86 goals/against average.

Outside of the obvious conference opponents, Milwaukee and GB have two other common opponents this season. The Phoenix fell to Loyola, 1-0, back on Sept. 7 and was also one of two teams to draw DePaul this season, tying 1-1 on Sept. 11.

About Wright State
WSU is off to a rocky start, but, like Milwaukee, the Raiders have taken on a very challenging non-conference schedule. Wright State dropped one-goal decisions to Louisville and then-21st ranked Wake Forest to start the season and also falling to a stingy Western Michigan team that made the NCAA Tournament a year ago, 1-0.

Three players are tied for the team-lead with two goals each for the Raiders, while six other players have netted one goal apiece. Scoring hasn't been easy to come by for the Raiders this season, who have been shutout six times, though they do have plenty of offensive potential as they rattled off five goals in a win over Tennessee Tech on Sept. 19.

Series Notes
The Panthers hold the series edge against both of their opponents this week. Milwaukee is 24-6-1 all-time against the Phoenix, with the last Green Bay win in the series coming in 2003 - a 2-1 overtime victory at Green Bay.
The Panthers' series with Wright State has been a little bit closer, with UWM holding the all-time mark at 21-8-5. However, all of the most recent three matches have been 1-0 decisions, with WSU claiming two of the wins. In fact, the 1-0 double-overtime win by the Raiders back on Sept. 22, 2012 was the last time a road league opponent won a game at Engelmann.

Bunches & Bunches Of Goals
The Panther offense has been a little streaky so far this season, but when they find the back of the net, the goals come in bunches. Against College of Charleston, Milwaukee pounded out four goals, twice scoring two goals in less than four minutes of game time. Against No. 25 DePaul, Morgan LaPlant scored two goals all by herself in less than six minutes. In the 2-1 win at Loyola, the Panthers scored both goals in just under seven minutes. In fact, in its five-goal barrage against Marquette, the Panthers had their largest time gap between goals all season at 31:51.

Leading the League
Kelly Lewers was named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week this week after netting a pair of goals last week. She opened up the scoring in a 2-1 win over Illinois State Wednesday before finding the equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Cleveland State on Saturday. For her efforts, she was also named the league player of the week by College Sports Madness this past week. The senior forward is now on a five-game point streak, with three goals and three assists in that span.

Heart Stoppers
Milwaukee's 5-4 win over Marquette sure was one for the ages. The Panthers raced out to a 4-0 lead before a surprising MU comeback knotted the game up at 4-4 with just over four minutes remaining. But, it was Sydney Senn in the role of hero, scoring the game winner with just 1:32 left on the clock to give UWM the wild win.

Recently, Panther fans have seen quite a few heart-stopping wins by their team. Last year, Milwaukee erased deficits of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 before scoring the winner with 23 seconds left in regulation in the Horizon League Tournament Championship to clinch a berth to the NCAA Tournament. Also last season, Morgan LaPlant and Kelsey Holbert both scored in the closing minutes of a 3-2 win over Youngstown State at home late in the season, while Kelly Lewers gave UWM a 4-3 win at Miami (Ohio) with a goal at 88:46 earlier in the year.

Black & Blue
It's no secret that Milwaukee has had a rash of injuries so far this season. The Panthers were forced to use five different starting lineups in their first five matches of the season. Three true freshmen have already made their first collegiate starts and 26 of the 29 members of this year's squad have already seen the field.

Tough Sledding
Milwaukee has traditionally played a very difficult non-conference schedule every season, and this year is no different. Marquette, South Carolina and Boston College were all ranked in the preseason top-25, with SC checking in as high as No. 9 in the nation right after narrowly defeating UWM. Also, DePaul and Auburn both jumped into the national poll just before playing Milwaukee, with DePaul now soaring to the 13th-ranked team in the country.

Fabulous Freshmen
There are nine true freshmen on this year's Panther squad and many have already been called upon to contribute right away. So far, those newcomers have already come up with some big moment. Freshman Cassidy Blanchard has started every game at center back and has done well at limiting the opposing attack and scoring her first collegiate goal against UIC. Two of Sydney Senn's goals have been game winners including the final goal in the dramatic win over Marquette. And, Anna Smalley has been in the starting lineup since week two and has one assist, thus far.

Back In Black (& Gold)
The Panthers return eight of their starters from last year's roster and appear to be ready for another successful year on the field. Eight seniors headline the squad this season, including last year's Horizon League Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP Kelly Lewers. All-league first-teamers Krissy Dorre and Kelsey Holbert join Lewers on the attack, while second-teamer Amy Kauffung and all-freshman honorees Paige Lincicum and Kelly Manski also return for the Black and Gold this season.

Engelmann Elite
Milwaukee has always had a rich tradition of large home crowds and last season was certainly no different. Despite only having nine home games on their schedule last year, that didn't stopped the fans from coming out and packing Engelmann Stadium. 4,794 fans went through the turnstiles for Panther home games last year for an average of 533 per game, the second-highest average in program history. Last year also marked the fourth-highest fan turnout in a single season, with two of the highest attended games in program history, as well (Aug. 30 vs. Indiana, second-highest; Sept. 23 vs. Marquette, fifth-highest).

So Far, So Great
In just his third year at the helm of the program, head coach Greg Henschel has already twice guided the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament. He now is the only coach in the department's Division I history to guide its team to the NCAA Tournament in both of his first two seasons. Previously, he was one of three coaches to achieve that feat in just his first year, joining former women's soccer coach Michael Moynihan (1997) and current men's basketball coach Rob Jeter (2006) before Henschel again reached the NCAAs again last season.

What They're Saying
A look around the college soccer preseason polls shows there are plenty of expectations on this year's Panther squad. "College Sports Madness" announced its Preseason All-Horizon League teams with Milwaukee topping every group. Kelly Lewers, Krissy Dorre, Kelsey Holbert and Amy Kauffung were also first-team selections. Head coach Greg Henschel was tabbed as coach of the year, while newcomer Aubrey Krahn was selected as freshman of the year and Lewers was picked to repeat her offensive player of the year status.

All White Kit also selected UWM as its Horizon League favorite, saying it should be business as usual for the Panthers this season and adding "the Panthers should still walk away with more silverware in 2014."

Panthers Picked First In Preseason Poll
For the 14th time in the last 15 years, Milwaukee checked into the preseason coaches' poll at the top of the table. The Panthers received six of the nine first-place votes and collected 62 points overall. Oakland gathered two first-place votes and was picked second (51 points), while Wright State garnered one first-place nod and was picked third (50 points). Last year marked the first time in recent history that Milwaukee came in anywhere other than the top of the preseason poll, being picked third. That season, UWM went on to win its 14th-straight regular-season league title and sixth-straight league tournament crown.

Catch All The Action And More
All the Panther home games will again be webcast live and free on the Horizon League Network. In fact, beginning with the team's home opener against Boston College, every game from Engelmann Stadium will be featured on HLN.

In addition to live events, features, highlights and interviews are available at the Black & Gold Network - the department's official YouTube channel. Be sure to check in with BGN for the latest news and action surrounding Milwaukee women's soccer.

Milwaukee also has three matchups that can be seen on television as Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will broadcast the Panthers' in-state rivalries with Marquette (Sept. 11) and Green Bay (Oct. 8), as well as the first-ever meeting with startup program UIC (Sept. 24).

Up Next
Milwaukee will get a full week before its next game - the longest break the team has all season - before welcoming Oakland to Engelmann Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18 at noon for the final home game of the regular season.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Anna Smalley: M; 5' 4"; Freshman

#4 Kelly Lewers: F; 5' 8"; Senior

#5 Amy Kauffung: D/M; 5' 3"; Senior

#6 Kelsey Holbert: M; 5' 3"; Senior

#10 Sydney Senn: F; 5' 10"; Freshman

#11 Aubrey Krahn: F; 5' 4"; Freshman

#17 Kelly Manski: D/M; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#25 Morgan LaPlant: M/F; 5' 3"; Senior

#27 Cassidy Blanchard: D; 5' 10"; Freshman

#29 Krissy Dorre: F; 5' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#3 Anna Smalley
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: M

#4 Kelly Lewers
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F

#5 Amy Kauffung
: 5' 3"; Senior
: D/M

#6 Kelsey Holbert
: 5' 3"; Senior
: M

#10 Sydney Senn
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: F

#11 Aubrey Krahn
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: F

#17 Kelly Manski
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: D/M

#25 Morgan LaPlant
: 5' 3"; Senior
: M/F

#27 Cassidy Blanchard
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: D

#29 Krissy Dorre
: 5' 5"; Senior
: F