MILWAUKEE – Led by the fifth-fastest goal to start a game in program history, the Milwaukee women's soccer team scored just 47 seconds into the match to jumpstart an 8-0 victory over Eastern Kentucky Friday night at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (3-0) blanked the Colonels (1-2-0) to remain unbeaten and unscored upon in the 2021 campaign and have netted 20 goals in those three contests.
 
"One of the things we stressed was coming out quick, because they've (EKU) come out quick in their two games," head coach Troy Fabiano said. "And that was an important key for us. We get a goal 47 seconds into the game and at that point the girls saw it."
 
It was Jelena Sever tonight, volleying in a cross from the wing from Natalie Auble in the first minute. Her goal at the 0:47 mark goes down as the fifth-quickest to start a match (the school record is 26 seconds set back in 1998).
 
"We came out buzzing, created chances, we were dangerous … scored some goals – some very good goals," Fabiano said. "One of the things we challenged them at halftime was in the second half of the last game we didn't play well, and we wanted to push them. And they showed up. In the second half, when we subbed, the level didn't drop. We scored a lot of goals, which is a positive thing early in the season and we aren't giving up goals. And the girls have been through this … it's three games in and we just want to keep building and get better."
 
Gaby Schwartz started the opening scoring opportunity and did so on the next two as well. In the eighth minute, Mackenzie Schill volleyed in a Schwartz free kick in front to make it 2-0 and Haley Johnson then headed in a Schwartz corner kick in the 21^st minute and the route was on.
 
Milwaukee dominated the scoresheet, holding 60 percent of possession while claiming huge advantages of 27-to-5 in shots, 18-to-1 in shots on goal, and 11-to-4 in corner kicks.
 
Not to be lost in the goal-scoring barrage is another shutout by Elaina LaMacchia, needing just one save – but it was a good one in the 23^rd minute – to record the 24^th clean sheet of her MKE career. The defense did not let up, allowing just one shot after intermission – and that was a blocked attempt from 18 yards away deep into the period.
 
The score remained 3-0 until Schill got her brace, netting her second at the 62:47 mark after she was alone on the break on passes from Johnson and Rafferty Kugler.
 
The Panthers again substituted generously, with 22 different players seeing the field, including six subs that played over 22 minutes. It was the second and third wave of Panthers that did the most damage, extending the lead from 4-0 to the 8-0 final over the last 15 minutes of the night.
 
Lesley Kiesling made it 5-0 on a header at the 74:54 mark, assisted by Emma Famulak after she chased down Trudy Quidzinski's corner kick that flew all the way across the goal front.
 
Kat Van Booven then got in on the action, netting her second of the year on a header in front, sneaking over the keeper's outstretched arms and under the cross bar on a perfectly placed ball from Kugler.
 
Van Booven also netted a pair, getting sprung free next on a great thru ball from Maggie Woods in the 86^th minute. She did the rest, dribbling around the goalie before finding the net on a tough angle.
 
Woods then closed out the scoring, taking a pass from Van Booven for a 1-on-1 opportunity. Her first attempt was saved, but the rebound came right back to her, and she sent it home for the first goal of her Panther career at the 86:47 mark.
 
Sever paced the offense with six shot attempts, putting four on goal. Van Booven had five (4 on target) while finishing with a team-best five points (2G/1A). Johnson recorded four shots, including her first goal of the season as well as one assist. Schill had her two goals (now five on the season) on just three shots.
 
Schwartz recorded three assists in a game for the second time in her career, tying for fourth-most in a game in program history. Woods ended the evening with three shots (all on goal), one goal and one assist in her 29 minutes of action.
 
The team will have the rest of the weekend off, remaining at home to host DePaul Thursday. Game time against the Blue Demons is set for 7 p.m. at Engelmann Stadium.