MILWAUKEE – Haley Johnson and
McKaela Schmelzer scored goals in the closing minutes to send the Milwaukee women's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Loyola Chicago Saturday night at Engelmann Stadium.
The Panthers trailed the Ramblers by a score of 1-0 at halftime, but turned the night around over the final 45 minutes to claim the impressive victory.
Loyola Chicago won the Missouri Valley Conference and played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago and were also picked to repeat in the 2019 MVC preseason poll earlier this week.
"This was our last exhibition game and we received a performance from the team that we were really looking for," head coach
Troy Fabiano said. "I really liked the tempo of the second half and it was really good to see us finish strong."
Tied 1-1 and getting late, Milwaukee kept up the pressure and broke through, with Johnson scoring in the 87
th minute to cap the comeback from the earlier deficit. Not even 90 seconds later, Schmelzer thundered in a header to close out the scoring in the 88
th minute.
Gaby Schwartz had a hand in both goals, carrying the ball down the left sideline to start the go-ahead sequence of the first. She found
Mackenzie Schill, who turned and fired to the far post from the end line. Johnson was there waiting, finishing calmly at the 86:05 mark to give MKE the 2-1 advantage.
Next, Schwartz took a free kick from along the left sideline on the following possession, sending a perfect serve to the far post where Schmelzer was there to bury it at the 87:25 mark.
The Panthers came out firing out of the locker room in the second half, earning a corner kick and a shot in the first few minutes. Following another corner,
McKenna Stratton led Johnson, who redirected back in front of goal for Schill, leveling the game at 1-1 at the 52:34 mark.
After just a slim 4-2 lead in shots over the first 45 minutes – and a 1-0 deficit following a Rambler goal in the 35
th minute – the Panthers collected seven shots after intermission to finish with the 11-to-5 advantage in shots on the night. An impressive 10 of them were on target (10-2 advantage), with Johnson finishing with a game-high four (all on frame).
Johnson and Schill both finished the contest with a goal and assist; Schwartz recorded two assists.
Elaina LaMacchia played all 90 minutes in net for Milwaukee, called on for just one save.
Up next, the Panthers open the 2019 season for real, with the opener at DePaul Thursday. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
