GREEN BAY, Wis. – David Cox scored the game-winning goal with 36 seconds remaining in regulation to send the Milwaukee men's soccer team to a thrilling, come-from-behind, 2-1 victory over Green Bay Tuesday evening at Alda Santaga Stadium.
 
"Obviously, very excited for our guys," head coach Kris Kelderman said. "Both with the result and with the grit and fight that they showed from minute one to the 90^th minute. It was an exciting game from two pretty good teams tonight. We stayed the course, kept plugging away – I think the guys showed great fight and hung in there."
 
The Panthers (5-4) trailed the Phoenix (3-3-1) at halftime by a score of 1-0 despite having the large majority of chances. The team kept their composure, tied the game on Paolo Gratton's goal in the 52^nd minute and won it in the closing seconds to claim the "Chancellor's Cup".
 
"To score at the very end, I thought it was a well-deserved victory," Kelderman said. "It's always a tough game between Milwaukee and Green Bay. It's always an emotional one and you always know it's going to be a competitive and close match."
 
In addition to retaking the Cup, Milwaukee also moved ahead of Green Bay into fourth place in the Horizon League standings with just one game remaining, giving itself control of its own destiny for the postseason.
 
"Tonight we prevailed when we really needed to, especially with the chance at the conference tournament," Kelderman said. "We have one game to go and the guys are excited to get to the next match. We will keep plugging away and moving forward."
 
Tied, 1-1, the Panthers peppered the GB goal with shots down the stretch, recording eight over the final 13 minutes. They finally converted for the winner.
 
Josh Kidder brought the ball down the wing and centered it, finding Colin Alba. Alba's shot attempt was heading in, but was cleared off the line by a GB defender, who sent it back into play. Cox was there, settled it off his chest and volleyed the winner into the back of the net at the 89:24 mark.
 
Just over a half-minute of defending later, the Panthers were able to celebrate with the "Chancellor's Cup" at midfield.
 
Logan Farrington played a role in the late threats, seeing his connection with a pass from Abdu Regassa corralled at the doorstep of the goal in the 78^th minute.
 
Next, a sprawling save on a blast from Kidder on the wing was pushed wide in the 82^nd minute.
 
Cox nearly had the winner in the 87^th minute, only to see his left-footed blast off a loose ball following a corner kick saved off the line when it was headed past the Phoenix keeper as well.
 
Down 1-0 at the intermission despite controlling much of the action, the Panthers went to work early in the second to find the equalizer. And who else but Gratton again, netting his league-leading eighth goal of the season to make it a new game at the 51:42 mark.
 
It was a great build-up for the strike, with Farrington settling a ball that came into the box, finding Kidder, who then centered for Gratton to take the blast to the far post.
 
The team took everything up a notch in the second, pressing offensively to get the goals while controlling the Phoenix on defense. The Panthers put up a huge 13-3 shot differential after halftime to end the day with a 19-to-5 advantage in total shots in the contest, including 8-to-2 in shots on goal. None of the three Phoenix shots in the second period were on frame, with GB taking the 3-2 edge in corners overall.
 
Gratton (6 shots) and Farrington (5 shots) led the offense. Nick Chiappa was credited with just one save to claim the victory, but it was an impressive one, coming on a breakaway opportunity in the eighth minute.
 
Up next, the Panthers play their final game of the regular season, welcoming Robert Morris to Engelmann April 5. Kickoff is set for 12 PM as game one of a men's/women's doubleheader.