The Milwaukee men's soccer team will continue its quest for a sixth Horizon League Tournament Championship and 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history Saturday, traveling to Northern Kentucky for the title game matchup at NKU Soccer Stadium. The contest against the nationally-ranked Norse will get underway at 4 p.m., following the women's finals - which also features an MKE/NKU matchup. No general admission tickets will be available due to COVID protocols (team pass lists only).

Back in the United Soccer Coaches regional poll last week (and up to #6 this week), while also receiving votes in the Top Drawer Soccer national poll this week, the Panthers entered the final day of the regular season needing a win to secure their spot in this season's condensed four-team event and took care of business with a 4-0 blowout of Robert Morris. The team then moved on in the postseason with a semifinals upset, knocking off No. 2 UIC on a late goal by Paolo Gratton in posting a 2-1 victory.

See page 9 of this release for the complete bracket of the tournament. Saturday's affair will have a live ESPN+ stream as well as live statistics. Check out the Milwaukee website for all links.

The 2020-21 campaign, which was postponed from the fall to this spring, was a shortened version seeing the Panthers play 10 Horizon League matches. Milwaukee closed out the 2019 campaign playing very well, posting a 6-1-4 record from October 1 on, while closing the season on an eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3), which included that 1-1 draw in the Horizon League Tournament Championship before falling in heartbreaking fashion in a penalty-kick shootout. The squad had two players earn first-team all-league honors as well as six players with postseason accolades in total. The defense was tops in the Horizon League, posting a conference-best 1.00 goals-against average as well as eight shutouts.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
NORTHERN KENTUCKY: The Norse look to continue a 2021 campaign that has exceeded expectations, claiming the Horizon League regular season title at 8-1 after being picked for eighth place in the Horizon League preseason poll. The team received its first-ever national ranking last week, appearing in Top Drawer Soccer's poll at No. 24 (moving up to #23 this week). They added another Monday when they checked in at #29 in the College Soccer News Top 30, followed up by a No. 22 showing in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll Tuesday (where they are currently #3 in the North Region poll).

The team will enter play Saturday having won eight straight, with the only blemish on the ledger coming in a season-opening loss to Detroit Mercy, 2-1. Dylan Bufton leads an offense that has scored 14 goals in the eight games with 13 points (5G/3A), with Sam Robinson second with eight points (2G/4A). In net, Daniel Bermingham has had a very good season, posting a 0.72 goals-against average, .838 save percentage and four shutouts to earn Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Bufton joined him on the all-league first team with Justin Earle, with Ryan Godding a second-team honoree.

Fifth-year head coach Stu Riddle, the 2021 HL Coach of the Year,  led the Norse to a 7-10-1 record in 2019, going 3-5 in conference play. NKU began that season with a strong exhibition showing against No. 8 Kentucky, tying the Wildcats, 0-0. The Norse also defeated both Wright State, the eventual Horizon League Tournament champion, and regular-season champ UIC. On Oct. 9, the Norse dropped Berea by a final of 11-0, tying Syracuse for the most goals in a single game in NCAA DI on the season.

Milwaukee is a near-perfect 5-1 against NKU since it joined the Horizon League and 6-1 all-time (also a game in 2012). Most have been close, with MKE posting identical 2-1 wins in both 2018 and 2019. Earlier this spring, the Norse won for the first time in the series, posting a 1-0 shutout.

A TRIO ON THE TOP SQUAD
Three members of the team were named First-Team All-Horizon League – highlighted by Logan Farrington earning Horizon League Freshman of the Year honors – when the league office announced the all-league teams and specialty award winners. Farrington was joined on the first-team by Paolo Gratton and Jake Kelderman. Farrington also picked up a spot on the Horizon League All-Freshmen Team, where he was joined by fellow newcomer Raul Medina. It's the first time MKE MSOC has had a trio of players on the first team since 2003. Farrington joins Evan Conway (2016) as the only Panthers to be honored as league freshmen of the year.

GREAT THINGS FOR GRATTON
Junior Paolo Gratton has put together a breakout 2021 campaign, sitting second in the Horizon League with 20 points (10G) and in first by himself with his 10 goals - a total that stands fourth in the NCAA this season.  In netting his 10th goal against UIC in the semifinals, he becomes the first MKE player to reach double-figures in goals since Laurie Bell recorded 13 goals back in 2013.

After scoring in the Horizon League Tournament Championship in the final game of 2019, Gratton has carried that momentum into this campaign. He has stayed strong on offense, establishing career-highs (by week 4) in all categories with his 20 points and 33 shot attempts. He put together a brilliant outing against Oakland March 12, netting two goals in a game for the first time as a Panther, with his brace giving MKE a 3-2 lead at the time.

He followed that up with another two-goal effort against IUPUI March 24, making it back-to-back multi-goal efforts - something that hadn't been done by a MKE MSOC player in 17 years. The last to accomplish the feat was Antou Jallow in 2004, when he netted a pair against Loyola Oct. 24 and followed it up with two more in a win over Marquette two days later. He's also the first Panther with two multi-goal efforts at any point in the same season since Declan Rodriguez in 2015 (2G vs. Evansville in August/2 vs. Northern Kentucky in November).

MAKING GOOD THINGS HAPPEN IN THREE'S
Josh Kidder continues to bring his playmaking skills to the field game after game and April 5 against Robert Morris was no different. He finished the afternoon with three assists, setting up each of the first three strikes in the 4-0 victory. Kidder is the second Panther to record three assists in a game this season, joining Raul Medina who accomplished the feat against IUPUI March 24 (after not having been done since Dale Weiler did so against Marquette in October 2004). The trio of helpers ties for fifth-best in a game in program history and gives him nine on the season, good for a career-high (he had seven as a freshman in 2019) and currently second in the Horizon League as well as fourth in the nation. He has a chance to become the first MKE player with 10 assists in a season since Craig Mallace had 10 in 2005.

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. David Cox was the hero in 2021's version, netting the game-winner with 36 seconds left in regulations.

It happened again in 2018, 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. Eight of the past 10 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. Seven 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.

HE IS FARR-OUT
Logan Farrington notched a pair of goals for the second time this season against IUPUI March 24, adding another assist to help him earn Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week honors. He joins Gratton with the first pair of multi-goal matches in the same season since Declan Rodriguez in 2015. He is also the first Panther freshman to pick up HL weekly honors since goalkeeper Freddy Lorenzen in August of 2017. He has been a terror to league defenses all season, leading the conference in both total shots (48) and shots in goal (19) heading into the postseason. His 13 points (5G/3A) leads all Horizon League freshmen on the scoring chart.

MEDINA MAGIC
Raul Medina has made a solid first impression with the Panthers, making nine starts in his 10 appearances through the 11-game season, recording 12 points (3G/6A). He played the hero role in the overtime win at Detroit Mercy and converted a PK against Wright State that stood up as the game-winner. That made him the fourth player to record back-to-back game winners since Kris Kelderman took over as head coach before the 2012 campaign. He joins Evan Conway (2019 vs. Eastern Illinois and Valparaiso), Robbie Boyd (2013 vs. DePaul and IUPUI), and Laurie Bell (2012 vs. IUPUI and Eastern Illinois).

Medina also put his talent to work against IUPUI March 24, assisting three of the four goals in the 4-0 win. Medina's three assists tied for the fifth-most in a game in program history, marking the first time since 2004 that the feat was accomplished. That season, Dale Weiler notched three helpers against Marquette in late October, setting up each strike in a 3-1 victory.

POLLING PLACE
The United Soccer Coaches released their first set of national and regional polls for the spring 2021 slate March 2. Milwaukee had made a quick first impression, landing at No. 10 in the opening North Region poll.

CHIAPPA THE KEY
Nick Chiappa was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week Feb. 26 after his work in the 1-0 overtime victory over Detroit Mercy. He picked up the first league honor as a Panther after making four saves to record the clean sheet, the second of his career. One of his four saves came in the 90th minute to get the match to the extra session. Raul Medina then came up big, scoring the golden goal in the 92nd minute.

DANDY DEBUT
Freshman Logan Farrington made quite the first impression with his outing against Purdue Fort Wayne in the season opener. He scored twice, netting the first goal of the game at the 15:09 mark while also accounting for what stood up as the game-winner when he made it 3-0 at the 57:35 mark. The brace in the 3-2 victory marked a first for an MKE freshman in a season opener since Edison Crespo did the same in the 2010 opener. It also marked just the third time in program history the feat has been recorded (Dan Day actually had three back in 1984).

STEADY DOSE OF OFFENSE
Farrington did set some history while he played all 90 minutes against the Mastodons Feb. 4, as his nine shots are the most-ever for a Panther freshman debut outing. To compare to the other multi-goal debuts mentioned above, Crespo pulled off the task in stunning fashion, playing just 13 minutes and scoring in the 88th and 89th minutes (four total shots) of a 4-2 win to secure the "Milwaukee Cup" against Marquette.

Day's day in 1984 consisted of six shots and included an assist. Farrington finished just one shot away from what would have been the third double-figure shot outing since 2006. Vuk Latinovich had 11 shot attempts against IUPUI in 2019, while Steve Sperl had 10 against Cleveland State in October of 2006.

FOR OPENERS
Milwaukee is now 26-17-5 all-time in season openers following a 3-2 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne to open the 2020 slate. Head coach Kris Kelderman now has 10 season openers on his resume at the NCAA Division I collegiate level, going 9-1-0. In addition to the wins over Purdue Fort Wayne (2021), 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.

LEAGUE LIFTOFF
The Panthers are now 23-11-3 all-time in league openers in seasons in which they have been affiliated with a conference following the 3-2 victory at Purdue Fort Wayne this spring. Head coach Kris Kelderman is 4-4-2 in his 10 seasons, with the team also knocking off Oakland in overtime, 1-0, three years ago.

VUK HEADED TO THE BIG APPLE
Vuk Latinovich was selected by New York City FC in the 2021 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. NYCFC selected the senior midfielder in the third round of the draft with the 71st overall pick.
 
Latinovich was a two-time All-Horizon League honoree who earned First-Team All-League and Second Team United Soccer Coaches All-North Region accolades as a junior in 2019, missing what would have been his senior campaign when athletic events were cancelled due to COVID-19 in the fall. He becomes the fifth Milwaukee men's soccer player to be drafted by an MLS team and the first since Steve Bode was selected by the Chicago Fire in the fourth round of the 2008 Major League Soccer Draft. Antou Jallow (fourth round in 2005), Tighe Dombrowski (fifth round of 2004 draft) and Chad Dombrowski (fifth round in 2003) round out the distinguished list.

LEAN ON THE EXPERIENCE
The Panthers lost a handful of key players who were regular starters to graduation and other factors from the 2019 campaign, but do return four of their six student-athletes that earned league postseason honors. Set to return in 2021 is All-Horizon League Second Team member Jake Kelderman, as well as Horizon League All-Freshman Team selections Kasper Davidsson, Josh Kidder and Abdu Regassa.

Kelderman has been a three-year starter and will continue to anchor the MKE backline this season. He started all 20 games in 2019, netting a pair of goals on nine shots. Davidsson (16 starts in his 16 appearances), Kidder (12 starts in 20 games) and Abdu Regassa (14 starts in 20 games) all played key roles as freshmen and will be looked at to provide leadership this spring.

HEATING UP
The Panthers picked the perfect time of the season to play their best soccer to end the 2019 campaign, posting a 6-1-4 record after the calendar turned to October. The defense led the way, allowing just eight goals in the stretch while posting six shutouts for a team goals-against average of 0.67. Milwaukee closed the season on an eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3), its best stretch since a 10-game unbeaten start (9-0-1) to the 2013 season.

GETTING TO TWO
The Milwaukee defense was stingy a season ago, producing eight shutouts which was good for second in the league. The team goals-against average of 1.00 was also good for the top spot. Offensively, once the team found a second goal, the Panthers were very tough to beat. The squad went 10-0-1 when scoring two or more goals. That brings the four-year tally (heading into the 2021 campaign) to 32-3-6 when finding the back of the net at least twice in a match.

THAT'S OFFENSIVE
The Panthers put up quite the offensive display against IUPUI in a 2-2 draw in October of 2019. 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.

KEEP FIRING
The team was in every game in 2019 and gave itself a very good opportunity on both sides of the ball, night-in and night-out. The Panthers averaged 13.95 shots per game and were third in the league with 293 total shots. The team also paced the conference in corner kicks with 123.

TOUGH DECISIONS
The Panthers were on the wrong side of some hard-luck decisions during the 2019 campaign, 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.

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 41-19-12 (.653) at home in Kris Kelderman's eight-plus years as the head coach.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
A unique situation again takes place this spring 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).

CATCH THEM IN ACTION
Milwaukee men's soccer will be available for the viewing pleasure of MKE fans this season, as all home games are scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+ (subject to change due to weather and location). 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 season, 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 $5.99 a month (or $59.99 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
If the Panthers win the Horizon League Tournament Championship, they will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, starting April 29. The entire event will take place in Cary, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas, with semifinals and finals wrapping up May 13-17.