The Milwaukee men's soccer team has reached the final game of the regular season with postseason hopes still a possibility. The task at hand will be a challenge, welcoming a UIC team that just clinched the 2019 regular-season title last weekend. The Panthers host the Flames Friday night at Engelmann Stadium, in a contest that will also serve as "Senior Night" for the program.

Friday will feature a live stream on ESPN+ with Matt Schroeder on the call. Live statistics will also be provided and all links are available on the MKE website. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Engelmann Stadium.

The Panthers and Flames have had some memorable meetings in the all-time series, including numerous matchups in the postseason. Milwaukee and UIC are now a dead-even 19-19-5 lead going into play Friday, with the teams playing to a near-even 3-4-1 record the past eight contests - with six of the games decided by one goal (MKE fell, 4-3 in 2018. In overtime). That turns the tide from an impressive run by the Flames, who won seven games in a row between 2006 and 2011.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
UIC: Tenth-year head coach Sean Phillips led the Flames to their third straight Horizon League Tournament title in 2018, finishing with an overall record of 12-6-2 and a Horizon League ledger of 5-2-1. Picked No. 2 in the preseason poll, UIC one-upped that and has already claimed the 2019 regular-season crown at 6-1-0.

The team comes into play Friday at 12-4-0 overall, ranked No. 6 in the United Soccer Coaches North Region poll. The Flames have win three in a row and four of five, topping Cleveland State in overtime, 2-1, last week to claim the crown. They lead the league in goals scored (44) by a large margin (second currently has 35) and have netted 21 goals through seven league games. Five players have recorded double-figure points, led by a pair over 20. Bar Hazut leads the way with 25, coming on 10 goals and five assists. Jesus Perez is second with 20 (6G/8A).

RACE TO THE END
The Panthers are in need of points as the regular season comes to a close, with a very tightly-packed race for the postseason in place as the week starts. With only the top six teams advancing to the playoffs, Milwaukee currently sits in seventh place at 2-3-2 with eight points, but is just two points out of fourth place.

Based on all scenarios, Milwaukee could still finish as high as fourth and host a first-round matchup. For that to happen, the Panthers would need to win (+3 points to 11), the CSU/Detroit Mercy game would need to draw (leaving UDM at 11 and CSU at 10) and Wright State would need to lose (leaving them at 9) or draw (up to 10). MKE would then be tied for fourth with the Titans and own the head-to-head tie-breaker. All other scenarios still involve a Milwaukee victory. A draw wouldn't be enough, as MKE would lose a three-way tie-breaker with WSU and CSU.

CONGRATS SENIORS!
The three Milwaukee seniors will be wearing their jerseys at home for the final time Friday. #3 Ben Krolczyk, #9 Evan Conway and #28 Josh Kaye will each partake in pregame "Senior Day" festivities.

HEADING TO THE TOP OF THE CHART
Freddy Lorenzen recorded his league-leading fifth shutout of the season with a three-save effort in a 0-0 draw against Oakland Nov. 2. Not only that, but the clean sheet gives him 18 for his collegiate career, just three away from Chris Dadaian's (1999-2002) school record of 21.

Lorenzen currently sits tied for third with Jon Mroz (1988-91) at 18. P.J. Johns (1978-80) is second with 19 shutouts.

CALL IT THREE FOR TWO?
Evan Conway was named the Nike Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week Oct. 21, the third time in his MKE career. He had a brilliant week, leading the Panthers to back-to-back 2-0 victories over Eastern Illinois Oct. 15 and Valparaiso Oct. 19. He had the game-winning goal in each outing, launching 11 shots, seven of which were on goal.
 
He scored the opener against EIU and followed that up with a brace against Valpo, the third time in his career he has posted a two-goal performance. The other times: against Wright State in 2017 (which included 95' OT winner) and versus Marquette in 2016.

THAT'S OFFENSIVE
The Panthers put up quite the offensive display against IUPUI in a 2-2 draw Oct. 5. The team ran up 34 total shots in symmetrical fashion, firing off 13 in each half and four apiece in each overtime period. The 34 shot attempts marked the most since equaling that total with 34 against Green Bay back in October of 2012.

Vuk Latinovich had an eye-popping 11 shot attempts of his own, nearly coming up with the golden goal on the final one at the buzzer. That marked the first time a Panther recorded 10-or-more shots in a single game since Steve Sperl had 10 against Cleveland State in October of 2006.

KEEP FIRING
The team has been in every game and continues to give itself a very good opportunity on both sides of the ball, night-in and night-out. The Panthers average 14.1 shots per game and are fourth in the league with 226 total shots. The team also continues to pace the conference in corner kicks, starting the week at 101.

TOUGH DECISIONS
The Panthers have been on the wrong side of some hard-luck decisions this fall, with four of the six losses coming as one-goal setbacks and the Green Bay game essentially getting decided in the final minutes. Included in those four results are a pair of overtime losses (one on a PK), as well as a 2-1 loss on a 72nd-minute penalty kick.

CONWAY'S CAMPAIGN
Senior Evan Conway has been a three-year starter for the Panthers, making 55 starts in 57 career games coming into the 2019 campaign. The all-league honoree brought a resume into play this fall that included 21 goals, 12 assists, 54 points and 153 shots. With a similar final year stats-wise in a Milwaukee uniform, he could find his way into the record book for career Top 10 in all four of those categories. The current No. 10 spot in all of those categories looks like this:
Goals: 28 (Jake Provan, 1992-95) / Conway now at 26
Assists: 19 (three-way tie)  / now at 16
Points: 72 (Fabio Marras, 1980-83) / now at 68
Shots: 177 (Gerard Lagos, 1988-91) / now at 205

GIVE ME "SHOTS FOR 200 ALEX"
Evan Conway entered the Top 10 for career shots against Cleveland State Sept. 28 when he sent No. 178 on goal. He recently went over 200 for his career (now 205), becoming the sixth player in program history to accomplish it. He passed Ryan Seymour (7th at 196) and Manuel Lagos (6th at 198) in most recent action, with Mike Rowe (214) up next. Leading the way is the school-record total of 279, set by Pete Knezic back in 1977-80.

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 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 31-11-5 record in the series after retaining possession of the Cup home with a 2-1 victory Sept. 17. MKE is now 3-0-2 over the last five meetings.

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. Milwaukee 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

LEAGUE LIFTOFF
The Panthers are now 22-11-3 all-time in league openers in seasons in which they have been affiliated with a conference following the hard-fought 1-0 victory at Detroit Mercy Sept. 14. Head coach Kris Kelderman is 3-4-2 in his nine seasons, with the team also knocking off Oakland in overtime, 1-0, three seasons ago.

GETTING GOING
Freshman Matthew Cahill made a quality first impression with the Panthers, scoring twice in his first four games. His goal at the 2:57 mark against UAB Sept. 8 is also the quickest to open a game for Milwaukee since September of 2016. That day, Nick Moon found the back of the net in just 1:49 to jumpstart a 2-0 win over Bradley. The school record is only 19 seconds (B.J. Blake against Memphis in 2003).

FREDDY JOINING SOME FAST COMPANY
Freddy Lorenzen was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 3 after going 2-0 to open the campaign, which included a five-save shutout of Drake Sept. 2 to mark the 14th clean sheet of his time in Milwaukee. It is also the sixth fifth time he has now won the honor in his career. Considering he's just embarking on the start of his junior season, he may have a crack at league history over his career. The conference record for most weekly awards is eight. With six on his resume, Lorenzen already stands in fourth place all-time.

1. Nathan Steinwascher, Detroit Mercy: 8
T2. Antou Jallow, Milwaukee: 7
T2. Eric Lukin, UIC: 7
4. Freddy Lorenzen, Milwaukee: 6
5. JC Banks, Green Bay: 5

SYKES DOUBLE-UP
Alex Sykes netted a pair of goals in the season opener against Western Illinois Aug. 30 and, with five points (2G/1A), is near the top of the Horizon League scoring race and well on his way to top the eight (3G/2A) he recorded a season ago. It continued a recent trend over the years, marking the fourth time since 2010 that a Panther scored twice in the season opener. The most recent to do it was Kostas Kotselas (2016), with the recent list including Declan Rodriguez (2015) and Edison Crespo (2010). The program record for the season opener remains a hat trick (3) by Dan Day in 1984.

EXHIBITION SEASON REWIND
Milwaukee played three exhibition contests this fall, posting a 2-1-0 mark as it topped Cardinal Stritch (2-0 Aug. 16) and Parkside (3-2 Aug. 23), while also dropping a tight one at Loyola Chicago (1-0 Aug. 20).

Vuk Latinovich paced the offense with a trio of goals (two against Parkside), recording five shots. Evan Conway had a goal, assist and three shots, while newcomer Matthew Cahill also scored and fired off five shot attempts. In net, freshman Nick Chiappa compiled 61:04 of scoreless play in two games, making two saves. Freddy Lorenzen saw 148-plus minutes of action, allowing two goals while making four saves.

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, Milwaukee 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 MKE standards, the magic is getting brought back - the Panthers have compiled a record of 38-18-12 (.647) at home in Kris Kelderman's seven-plus years as the head coach.

WELCOME TO MILWAUKEE
There will be plenty of chances for newcomers to make an impression once again in 2019. A season ago, the Milwaukee squad was very young, with 12 of the 31 student-athletes appearing on a Panther uniform for the first time (nine true freshmen and two redshirt freshmen, as well as one transfer who sat out the prior season). This year, 10 of the 25 on the roster will be appearing in a Panther uniform for the first time (seven true freshmen, one redshirt freshmen, as well as a pair of transfers).

GETTING TO TWO
The Milwaukee defense was stingy a season ago, producing five shutouts which was good for third in the league. The team goals-against average of 1.10 was just off the top spot of 0.95 and also checked in at third. Offensively, once the team found a second goal, the Panthers were very tough to beat. Last fall, the squad went 6-1-0 when scoring two or more goals. That brings the three-year tally (heading into the 2019 campaign) to 22-3-5 when finding the back of the net at least twice in a match.

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 last season, with Sean Holmes golden goal coming in the 99th minute. The year prior, MKE tied the game with just eight seconds remaining in regulation on a goal by Jonathan Stadler to force overtime before falling. And again in 2016, when Milwaukee reclaimed the Cup with a thrilling 1-0 victory Oct. 22 on a goal by Magnus Flaatedal.

Seven of the past nine occasions these two teams have now played, the game has gone into overtime (5 of 7 into double-overtime), with five of the seven ending in victories for one team or the other. Five 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.

FOR OPENERS
Milwaukee is now 25-17-5 all-time in season openers following a 3-2 victory over Western Illinois to open the 2019 slate. Head coach Kris Kelderman now has nine season openers on his resume at the NCAA Division I collegiate level, going 8-1-0. In addition to the wins over WIU (2017-2019), 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.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
A unique situation again takes place this fall on the field for the Milwaukee men's soccer team. Kris Kelderman will again be the head coach for his son, Jake, for a fourth straight campaign (Jake redshirted in 2016).

BRING ON THE CUP
The "Milwaukee Cup" 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, Milwaukee 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.

CATCH THEM ANYWHERE
Milwaukee men's soccer will be readily available for the viewing pleasure of MKE fans this season, as all but one home game (and nearly all conference road games) will be streamed live on ESPN+. The Horizon League and ESPN have an agreement that includes ESPN hosting the league's digital network on the ESPN+ platform.

ESPN+, which will host the Horizon League women's soccer, men's soccer and volleyball championships this fall, offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time. Launched in April of 2018, ESPN+ is an integrated part of a completely redesigned ESPN App.

ON TAP
The Panthers look to participate in the postseason, scheduled to get underway this coming Monday. Results will be posted to the website once final regular-season standings have been determined.