DAYTON, Ohio - The Milwaukee men's soccer team opened the 2016 exhibition season with an impressive defensive performance, playing a different goalkeeper each half in shutting out the University of Dayton in a 0-0 draw.
 
The Panthers got the combined shutout from newcomers Oliver Haslund and Sam Glass, who split the 90 minutes in half. The teams did not play overtime.
 
"I am very pleased with our performance," head coach Kris Kelderman said. "I thought from front to back we were pretty steady and pretty consistent throughout the whole game. Defensively we were very solid. We played a different goalie each half and the back line was very solid. Possession in the midfield was very good and we created a couple of chances where we had opportunities to score a goal."
 
Milwaukee featured a starting lineup that consisted of five sophomores and a trio of freshman. In all, 19 different players saw action.
 
"We got a good number of players on the field," Kelderman said. "Considering it's the first game of the preseason and the fourth day of practice, on the road against a very good Dayton team – a team that lost on penalty kicks in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year – it was a good day."
 
Haslund started the contest and made a nice save on a header just minutes into his debut. The Panthers then took over the run of play, forcing three corner kicks in the first 12 minutes despite not being able to find the back of the net.
 
For the day, Dayton did outshoot Milwaukee 9-3. After a 4-2 edge in corners in the first half, the Panthers recorded just one of the six corner tries after halftime. Reid Stevenson accounted for two of the three UWM shots, while Kostas Kotselas had the other.
 
"It was a hard game, an even game," Kelderman said. "We are looking forward to getting back at it tomorrow and to play Parkside next."
 
That exhibition game will be played Thursday at Engelmann Stadium, set for a start time of 5 p.m. against the Rangers.