MILWAUKEE – Evan Conway scored a goal just 40 seconds after the Milwaukee men's soccer team fell behind, jumpstarting an offense in the second half that helped the team claim a 2-1 victory over Parkside Wednesday evening at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The win closes out the exhibition season with a 2-0 mark.
 
"It was a good response," head coach Kris Kelderman said. "The goal that they had was a nice shot – I don't think we could do a whole lot about that. I thought we were much better in the second half. I was a bit underwhelmed by our performance in the first half. Just lacked some sharpness – preseason will do that to you. We talked about things at halftime and realized we just had to be better."
 
Following a scoreless first half, the Rangers struck first. Leki Prpa netted the opener at the 54:55 mark, sneaking one in off the post in the upper corner after Ryan Berger nearly had the impressive save.
 
That proved to be somewhat of a wake-up call for the Panthers, eventually outshooting the opposition by a count of 13-to-6 after intermission.
 
"I feel good about the chances that we had," Kelderman said. "The response we had was good and winning the game is always a good result."
 
Just a half-minute after falling behind, Josh Kaye picked up a touch from Conway and dribbled left, firing an attempt that hit the left post … then went all the way across and off the right post … and back again off the left post before slowly crossing in front of the goal. Conway was there to bury it and make it a 1-1 affair at the 55:35 mark.
 
It was Conway again with the eventual winner, finishing nicely off a Vuk Latinovich assist in the 70^th minute.
 
The MKE offense kept up the pressure. Suad Suljic almost tacked on in the 76^th and had a nice save made on another of his attempts in the 84^th minute.
 
Conway nearly recorded the hat trick. He had a close-range shot saved nicely off a give-and-go with Sean Holmes in the 81^st and sent one just wide a minute later.
 
For the game, Milwaukee claimed a commanding 22-to-9 advantage in shots, which included an 8-to-4 edge in shots on goal.
 
Conway led the way with a game-high six, putting four on frame. Holmes and freshman Cameron Williams each added four shots apiece.
 
Milwaukee had its chances in the first half as well, but could not convert. Latinovich's cracker from distance was stopped in the 10^th minute and he followed that up in the 17^th with a free kick that went off the post.
 
Suljic also had a goal in the 39^th minute get wiped off by an offside call.
 
Freddy Lorenzen started in goal and made one save in the first half. Berger made a pair of saves in the second half to earn the victory in net.
 
"Now we have a big challenge ahead of ourselves Sunday," Kelderman said. "I am excited for them … I know the guys are excited to get the season going and we will be ready to go."
 
The regular season starts next, with the Panthers traveling to Western Illinois Sunday, set for a kickoff of 5 p.m.