MILWAUKEE – Elaina LaMacchia made seven saves and Mackenzie Schill scored the only goal to send the Milwaukee women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Northern Kentucky Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (14-1, 9-0 Horizon League) scored early and the defense did the rest against the Norse (8-6-2, 6-3 Horizon League), helping the team improve to a perfect 9-0 in Horizon League play to sit at the top of the standings alone at the end of the weekend.
 
LaMacchia was impressive in posting her fifth solo shutout of the fall and 28^th clean sheet of her MKE career.
 
The seven saves were a season-high (and tied for third-most in a match in her career), saving the biggest one for the closing minutes. The Norse took possession near midfield and sent a blast from distance, which LaMacchia was able to knock off the post and grab once it went back into play in the 88^th minute to preserve the decision.
 
Schill continued her strong play, finding the back of the net for the third consecutive contest – and second-straight game-winner. Her league-leading 11^th goal of the campaign was scored at the 9:47 mark, dribbling in from the sideline and blasting a left-footed attempt on goal. The ball broke through the NKU attempt to stop it, but found the back of the net anyways.
 
"We always encourage them to shoot, because you never know what will happen," head coach Troy Fabiano said. "Sometimes we over-dribble or try to create that extra pass, but Schill has the ability to hit the ball."
 
The Panthers spent the rest of the day looking for a second goal that never came, despite some quality efforts.
 
"We were fortunate to get the one, but I think we were unfortunate not to get a couple more," Fabiano said. "It just seemed like we couldn't put that second one in, but it's that time of the year where it's difficult to score goals."
 
Kayla Rollins nearly snuck it a shot from the wing in the 30^th minute, seeing a diving save keep it at 1-0. Schill also looked to have a second goal of her own, but was just off target – clanging her attempt from the left wing off the far post and back into play in the 52^nd minute.
 
That started a run of strong offense for Milwaukee. Kat Van Booven was denied at the post in the 63^rd, right in front of back-to-back quality chances that were both turned away.
 
The first came on a ball into the box from Maggy Henschler to a header attempt from Lesley Kiesling. That ball was stopped somehow at the line, bouncing back into play. Jelena Sever then gave it a go, but a backline NKU defender knocked the attempt away with it headed for the back of the net. Both of those opportunities came in the 65^th minute.
 
For the game, MKE posted advantages of 19-to-12 in shots, 5-to-2 in corner kicks, and 57/43 on possession, with NKU the slim 7-to-6 edge in shots on goal. Van Booven and Sever were tops on the squad with three shots apiece.
 
Up next is a huge match, as the team will have most of the week off to prepare for a showdown with Oakland on the road Saturday. The Golden Grizzlies are the only other undefeated team in the league (right behind MKE at 8-0-1). Game time is set for 3 p.m. CST in Rochester.