Winners of three of the past four games, the Milwaukee men's soccer team looks to keep things rolling with a pair of road contests this week. Up first is a Tuesday evening step out of league play, taking on SIUE in a 7 p.m. start. Then, on the weekend, it's off to Ohio for a Saturday matchup at Cleveland State - a team that starts the week unbeaten in conference action and in second place at 3-0-1.

Tuesday will get underway at 7 p.m. and have live video on SIUE Cougar Network, as well as live stats. Saturday will also have the same options, with links to the ESPN3 broadcast and the live stats all available on the Milwaukee website. Kick off time against the Vikings will be 6 p.m. CST.

The Panthers and Cougars have played against each other in a series that dates back to 1973. SIUE leads, 13-6-1, but just one contest has been played since 1991. That was a 2-1 victory for UWM back in 2008 at Engelmann Stadium.

Milwaukee leads the series with Cleveland State by a count of 26-16-4. The two teams have traded punches the past few seasons, with CSU holding a slim 4-3-2 advantage since 2008, which does include a 1-0 UWM win in 2016. The Viking victory in 2008 snapped a span of significant length, ending the Panthers 18-game winning streak in the series that dated back to 1993. The two teams also have a history all the way back to 1973, including a pair of NCAA Tournament matchups in the early 1980's.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:
SIUE: The Cougars start the week at 3-6-0 overall, but have faced a very tough schedule with games against Michigan State, Syracuse, Memphis and Loyola in non-league play. It's also been up-and-down, with three losses, followed by three wins and again followed by three losses. Lachlan McLean leads the team in points (8) and goals (4). Kyle Dal Santo has played all 832 minutes in net, posting a 1.08 GAA.

The team was picked second in the Mid-American Conference preseason poll, its first season in the MAC. That follows a successful 2016 campaign that saw the team go 10-5-7 overall and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

CLEVELAND STATE: The Vikings start the week at 5-4-1 overall, but are off to an impressive start in Horizon League play at 3-0-1. Most recent results include three straight wins - at Oakland (3-0 Sept. 23), against Loyola (Md.) (2-1 Sept. 25) and against Belmont (2-1 Sept. 30). Vlad Jandric (8 points/4 goals) and Noah Pio (8 points/3G/2A) lead the way on offense. In goal, Sebastian Kalk is among league leaders with his 1.17 goals-against average.

CSU returned 14 letterwinners from last year's squad (7-8-2 overall/4-3-2 HL) while welcoming 10 newcomers to the mix under first-year head coach Kirk Harwat.

DEFENSE RISING
Behind Freddy Lorenzen - who was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season on Oct. 2 - the Panthers have posted back-to-back shutouts and clean sheets in three of the past four outings. That marks consecutive blankings of opponents for the first time this season and the first run of three out of four in a calendar year (end of September 2016/Belmont 1-0/Bradley 2-0/Western Illinois 2-0).

BALANCE IS ALWAYS KEY
The Panthers have played well of late, and balance on offense has been a key. Going in reverse order, the last eight goals that UWM has scored have come from eight different players, and the squad has seen 13 different players record points so far this fall.

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, now holding a 29-11-5 record in the series after returning the Cup home with a 2-0 win Sept. 26. They have posted back-to-back wins recently, reclaiming the Cup in 2010 with a 4-2 victory and keeping possession in 2011 with a 2-1 final score.

The 2012 matchup remains one for 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. 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.

OVERTIME AGAIN
After playing into overtime on five occasions last season, the Panthers had been right back at it in 2017. The team played extra time in four of its first six contests this season and used a pair of very-late goals to claim a win against Bradley in a matchup that appeared to be headed to extra time as well.

KING OF THE CORNER
The Milwaukee offense continues to click, and is starting to find the back of the net at the rate it likes better than earlier in the season. Finding shot attempts has not been an issue, currently leading the Horizon League at a clip of 16.6 per game. In fact, Milwaukee currently ranks sixth in the nation in shot attempts per game, after been ranked as high as No. 1 earlier this season (Seattle is currently No. 1 at 20.0). In addition, UWM had been able to record 16 corner kicks compared to ZERO for its opponents through 200 minutes of action.

CHANCELLOR'S CUP DRAMA
The battle for the Chancellor's Cup has seen some thrillers over the years but if it feels like the drama and intensity has been higher lately, you would be correct. It happened again this season, with UWM tying the game with just eight seconds remaining in regulation on a goal by Jonathan Stadler to force overtime before falling. And again last year, with UWM reclaiming the Cup with a thrilling 1-0 victory Oct. 22 on a goal by Magnus Flaatedal.

Six of the past eight occasions these two teams have played, the game has gone into overtime (5 of 7 into double-overtime), with four of the six ending in victories for one team or the other. Four years ago it was an own goal that won it for Green Bay, snapping Milwaukee's 10-game unbeaten streak (9-0-1) to start the 2013 season. The 2012 version ended in a draw but the 2011 edition provided one of the most memorable finishes to a game in program history, with Cody Banks netting the winner at the 109:53 mark.

LEAGUE LIFTOFF
The Panthers are now 21-10-2 all-time in league openers in seasons in which they have been affiliated with a conference. Head coach Kris Kelderman is 2-3-1 in his six seasons, with the team knocking off Oakland in overtime, 1-0, two seasons ago. The Panthers fell to UIC, 1-0, in last year's opener.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
The Panthers played well in the Aces ProRehab Classic (Sept. 1-3), overcoming a 2-0 deficit against Evansville to force overtime before falling while also claiming a 2-0 win over Bradley. In the win against the Braves, Evan Conway scored the game-winner late - coming at the 85:24 mark before UWM would add an insurance strike by Nick Moon. That was a late goal, but just last year there was one netted even later before OT was played. Evan Dujardin was in the right place at the right time against Cleveland State Nov. 4, following up Conway's partially-saved attempt that rebounded to put home the game-winner with just 25 seconds remaining in regulation (89:35). That marked the latest game-winner to the 90-minute mark since the epic 89:59 tally that Pol Narbona netted for the 3-2 win over IUPUI on August 31, 2012.

FOR OPENERS
Milwaukee is now 23-17-5 all-time in season openers following a 1-0 win over Western Illinois to open the 2017 slate. Head coach Kris Kelderman now has seven season openers on his resume at the NCAA Division I collegiate level, going 6-1-0. In addition to the victories over WIU (2017), Eastern Illinois (2016), Evansville (2015), DePaul (2014) and a nationally-ranked Marquette squad (2013), his Green Bay squad topped SIU Edwardsville, 1-0, in 2011.

DANDY DEBUT
Freddy Lorenzen posted a shutout in his collegiate debut, becoming the fourth freshman in the past 16 years to start the season opener in goal for the Panthers (freshman Oliver Haslund was in net a year ago in the 2-1 win at Eastern Illinois). Lorenzen becomes the first keeper to record a shutout in the opener since Kirk Thode made four saves to blank Dayton in a 0-0 draw to open the 2004 campaign. He followed that up with a 1-1 draw against EIU to earn Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honors for Week 1.

GOAL!
Freshman Henrik Fennefoss scored the first goal of the season for UWM, netting the game-winner late against Western Illinois. In doing so, he became the eighth freshman since 2000 to score in the season opener, joining Antou Jallow (2001), Adam Skalecki (2005), Edison Crespo (2010), Declan Rodriguez (2012), Petter Ingebrigtsen (2014), Matthias Binder (2015) and Francesco Saporito (2015) on that list.

EXHIBITION SEASON REWIND
Milwaukee played a pair of exhibition contests, finishing 1-0-1 (along with a PK shootout win) in that stretch. The Panthers opened the slate with a 2-2 draw against Loyola, before going straight to penalty kicks and claiming a 9-8 decision. Then, in their final tune-up, Milwaukee raced out to a commanding 5-0 lead just minutes into the second half before claiming a 5-3 win over Dayton. Nick Moon and Vuk Latinovich paced the offense with five points (2G/1A), with Latinovich and Reid Stevenson recording a team-best five shots. Five different players netted goals in the two contests. Defensively, Freddy Lorenzen posted a 0.86 goals-against average in 104:26 of game time, making both starts. He added an .857 save percentage and an assist on offense. Greg Baxa saw just over 75 minutes of action, recording four saves. He was also in net when UWM topped Loyola in the shootout, coming up with the final stop.

WELCOME TO MILWAUKEE
There will be plenty of chances for newcomers to make an impression in 2017. A season ago the Milwaukee squad was very young, with 21 of the 26 student-athletes were in their first or second year of playing collegiate soccer. This year, 17 of the 32 student-athletes will be appearing in a Panther uniform for the first time (12 true freshmen and four redshirt freshmen, as well as one transfer who will be sitting out the season).

NOW THIS IS HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
When it comes to home field advantage, the Panthers have historically ranked right up there with the best in the business. From 2001 through 2006, UWM turned Engelmann Stadium into a place visiting teams did not want to see on their schedule, going 49-8-2 in that time. After a few down seasons by UWM standards, the magic is getting brought back - the Panthers have compiled a record of 24-12-6 at home in Kris Kelderman's five years as the head coach heading into the 2017 season.

EXPERIENCED CREW
Four members of the team were honored with postseason awards last year - the most for the Panthers since 2006. In addition to the three earning spots on the All-Horizon League Second Team, newcomer Evan Conway received one of the specialty awards by being selected as the Horizon League Freshman of the Year. Nick Moon, Jonathan Stadler and Francesco Saporito were the trio that picked up second-team accolades, and all three are set to return to the field this fall. In fact, UWM returns 10 players who made at least 10 starts a year ago. Saporito and Moon started all 19 a season ago, while Conway and Sean Reynolds started 18 times. Stadler was next, checking in at 17 starts on the back line. In addition, Sam Glass is back after making 10 starts in goal, posting a 1.15 goals-against average and three shutouts.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
A unique situation takes place this fall on the field for the Milwaukee men's soccer team. For starters, Kris Kelderman will again be the head coach for his son, Jake, for a second straight campaign (Jake redshirted last season). In addition, Marco Fabiano joins the roster this fall. That name sounds familiar, as his dad, Troy, is starting his third season as the UWM women's soccer coach.

PART OF HISTORY
The Panthers and all of the fans jam-packed into Engelmann Stadium for the 'Milwaukee Cup' matchup against Marquette Sept. 3, 2015 became part of history. The 4,030 in attendance not only blew away the old facility record of 3,312 (set in the 2013 'Milwaukee Cup'), but was also the largest crowd to ever watch a collegiate men's soccer game in the history of the state of Wisconsin. UWM now holds the top four spots on the list.

4,030 - Sept. 3, 2015 - Milwaukee 1, Marquette 1 (MKE CUP)
3,312 - Aug. 30, 2013 - Milwaukee 2, Marquette 1 (MKE CUP)
3,256 - Sept. 13, 2006 - Milwaukee 3, Marquette 2 (MKE CUP)
3,000 - Nov. 22, 1980 - Cleveland State 1, Milwaukee 0
2,470 - Oct. 13, 1995 - Wisconsin 2, Indiana 0
2,250 - Sept. 3, 1990 - Milwaukee 0, Evansville 0
2,145 - Oct. 15, 1993 - Indiana 5, Wisconsin 1
2,138 - Oct. 1, 2003 - Wisconsin 1, Milwaukee 0

BRING ON THE CUP
Speaking of the "Milwaukee Cup", it 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". Back 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.

Jaime Colin helped the Panthers get the LeWang Cup back Sept. 20, netting the only goal of a 1-0 victory on a great individual effort in the first half.

GAME OF INCHES
Outside of a 3-0 loss to a very good Wisconsin squad that rose to as high as No. 20 in the country, the Panthers were actually oh-so-close to a spectacular campaign in 2016. Finishing at 8-8-3, the other seven losses were ALL one-goal heartbreakers for UWM. That followed a recent trend for the Panthers. In 2015, eight of the 10 losses were one-goal setbacks.

NOTHING STOPPING 'EM
The Panthers came together and played very well to end the 2016 season, with a hard-fought 1-1 draw on the road at league-leader Valparaiso Oct. 8 coming on the heels of four consecutive wins. That five-game unbeaten streak marked the best stretch for UWM since a five-game win streak in late 2013 (Oct. 26-Nov. 17).

FRANKIE SAYS RELAX
In 2016, Francesco Saporito came close to accomplishing something that hasn't happened for a UWM player in quite some time. He had been leading the conference most of the year, ending up in third in the Horizon League in assists with seven. Had he climbed to the top spot, he would have become the first Panther to top the Horizon League in assists since Dale Weiler did in 2004 (16). Weiler's 16 helpers were second in school history and third in league history at the time.

EARLY MOON RISING
Nick Moon came through pretty quickly against Bradley on Sept. 27 of last season, netting a goal just 1:49 into the contest to set the stage for the 2-0 win. The score was the earliest in a game this season for the Panthers by a wide margin (prior best was the 25th minute) and also marked the earliest goal in any UWM game since Declan Rodriguez hit the back of the netting at the 1:00 mark against Marquette on August 30, 2013 - leading the way to the 2-1 victory over the No. 12 Golden Eagles that day.

COMEBACK OF HISTORIC PROPORTIONS
The Panthers found themselves down, 3-0, before the "Milwaukee Cup" match against Marquette Sept. 14 was even 30 minutes old. No big deal for the squad. With Evan Conway leading the charge, UWM tied the game at 3-3 to force overtime and actually had a couple of chances to grab the win. A look back through the record books shows that this was indeed the first time that the Panthers overcame a 3-0 deficit to post a result in any game. For starters, the reason it is so rare is because UWM has not been down three goals in a game that often in program history. Overcoming even a two-goal deficit does not happen that often ... but the last time it did, it was also a "Milwaukee Cup" matchup. Marquette grabbed a 2-0 lead early in the second half back on September 6, 2006 - the first night game in the history of Engelmann Stadium - only to see the Panthers roar back with the final three goals in the 3-2 win. The only other two-goal deficit overcome to post a win in the past 15 years was a 3-2 win at UIC where Milwaukee trailed, 2-0 on November 3, 2001.

BACK IN THE GOOD GRACES
Milwaukee made an appearance in the National Soccer Coaches Association regional rankings last season, coming in at No. 10 in the Great Lakes Regional Aug. 30. The Panthers last appearance in the regional rankings prior to that came over the first month of the 2014 season after spending nearly all of the 2013 campaign in the Great Lakes Regional poll (and in the NSCAA national rankings as well).

CATCH THEM ANYWHERE
Milwaukee men's soccer will be readily available for the viewing pleasure of UWM fans this season, as eight home games will be streamed live on ESPN3. The Horizon League and ESPN have an agreement that includes ESPN hosting the league's digital network on the ESPN3 platform. ESPN3 is available to nearly 116.3 million homes. In addition, the battle for the "Milwaukee Cup" was aired live on Spectrum Sports.

ON TAP
The Panthers return home for one game, hosting Wright State Saturday, October 14. Game time is set for 7 p.m.