Another week of play, another contest with a traveling trophy on the line, as the Milwaukee men's soccer team heads to DeKalb, Ill., for its yearly battle against Northern Illinois Wednesday. That will not be the only game of the week, as UWM returns home Saturday to welcome UIC - the 2016 Horizon League Tournament Champion - to Engelmann Stadium.

Both games will have live statistics available and both will get underway under the lights at 7 p.m. Saturday night against the Flames will also have a live ESPN3 broadcast with Matt Schroeder on the call. Tuesday's clash for the LeWang trophy will be available on a fee-basis on NIU All-Access. All links are available on the Milwaukee website.

The Panthers lead the all-time series against Northern Illinois by a count of 22-16-5. Following three UWM victories in a row in the series from 2011 through 2013, Milwaukee kept possession of the LeWang Cup in 2014 with a 2-2 draw at home and again in 2015 with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory on the road. The cup went back to DeKalb last season following a late goal that allowed NIU to escape with the 2-1 win.

It will mark the 44th showdown between the regional foes and former Midwestern Collegiate Conference rivals. The winner of the match claims the John LeWang Cup, which is named after the former NIU coach who was killed in a car accident prior to the 1981 season. LeWang came to NIU as head coach in 1980 following his time as an assistant at Milwaukee and died in a car accident after his first season leading the Huskies. Since 1981, the two teams have played for the trophy named in his honor.

The Panthers and Flames have had some memorable meetings in the all-time series, including numerous matchups in the postseason. Milwaukee holds a slim 19-17-5 lead going into play Saturday, with the teams playing to an even 3-3-1 record the past seven contests - with five of the games decided by one goal. That turns the tide from an impressive run by the Flames, who won seven games in a row between 2006 and 2011.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:
NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Ryan Swan was named the ninth head coach of the Northern Illinois men's soccer program in January of 2017. He inherits a team that went 2-10-4 a season ago, posting a 1-3-1 mark in league play.

So far in 2017, the Huskies are 3-4 overall, with Swan getting his first victory in the opener on an overtime goal to give NIU a 3-2 win over DePaul. Alex Welch leads the offense with eight points (3G/2A), with Jan Maertisn close behind at seven (3G/1A). The goalkeeping has been a split, with Drew Donnally getting the larger share of minutes (377:50) while posting a 1.67 goals-against average and 21 saves.

UIC: The Flames, after being picked second in the Horizon League Preseason Poll, are off to an uncharacteristic 0-2 start in conference play following shutouts losses to Detroit Mercy and Wright State, both 2-0 decisions. The season record stands at stands at 1-4-1, with a Wednesday game at Northwestern awaiting this week.

UIC did return a solid nucleus from last season's NCAA tournament team, including leading scorer Max Todd and four others who played in all 20 games. One of the biggest questions was replacing two-time Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year Andrew Putna. In 2016, eighth-year head coach Sean Phillips led the Flames back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008 by virtue of the program's fourth Horizon League Tournament championship. He turned the season around after a 1-5-1 start to finish 9-8-3 and 5-3-1 in conference play.

OVERTIME AGAIN
After playing into overtime on five occasions last season, the Panthers have 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 18.7 per game. In fact, Milwaukee currently ranks second in the nation in shot attempts per game, with only Seattle (21.6 spg) ahead of them. In addition, UWM had been able to record 16 corner kicks compared to ZERO for its opponents through 200 minutes of action, a tally that now stands at 42-19 through seven games.

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.

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.

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 28-11-5 record in the series after the two teams played to an entertaining 3-3 draw Sept. 14. They have 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 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.

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.

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.

CONWAY DOUBLE-DIP
The play of Evan Conway was noticed early last season by the Horizon League, selected as the Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 19 after his pair of goals against Marquette and another tally against Northern Kentucky Sept. 17. The two-goal effort was the first for a UWM freshman since Reid Stevenson accomplished the feat against Green Bay October 1, 2014.

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 this year's 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).

GETTING THAT DEBUT 'W'
Newcomer Oliver Haslund made a trio of saves in the 2-1 season-opening victory over Eastern Illinois Aug. 28 a year ago, including a tremendous first-half stop that kept the game 0-0 at the time. The only goal he allowed came on an EIU penalty kick. He became just the third freshman in the last 15 years to start a season opener, and the second to record a victory. Liam Anderson was in goal for UWM's 2-1 upset of nationally-ranked Marquette in the 2013 opener, while John Shakon was on the wrong end of a tough 1-0 loss to the Golden Eagles in the 2009 opener, with the only score coming on an 85th-minute strike.

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" will now be shown on Spectrum Sports.

ON TAP
One of the biggest games of the season follows, with the Panthers hosting Marquette for the "Milwaukee Cup" next Tuesday. Join the teams at Engelmann Stadium for the crosstown rivalry starting at 7 p.m.