MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's soccer team built a 2-0 halftime lead on goals from Haley Johnson and Lesley Kiesling and then held on for a 2-1 victory over Wright State Thursday evening at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (6-1, 1-0 Horizon League) dominated the stat sheet against the Raiders (2-5-1, 0-1 Horizon League), but could not find a third goal the rest of the way. The decision did give them their ninth straight victory in their Horizon League opener.
 
The program honored Anthony Barajas pregame, brother of current junior Julia Barajas, with a moment of silence. Anthony, just 19 years old, was unexpectedly lost in a senseless act of violence in July.
 
"It was great to see Julia and her family," head coach Troy Fabiano said. "For them to be able to make the game was special. I think it was important for our team to see her and her family after all they have been through the past few weeks."
 
Milwaukee didn't waste much time opening the scoring again, netting the first goal in the eighth minute. The strike came off a free kick and was again assisted by Gaby Schwartz, who pushed her season total to nine to tie for the lead at the NCAA Division I level.
 
The play started from a free kick. Maggy Henschler played it to Schwartz, who sent a long serve into the front of goal. Mackenzie Schill flicked it forward with a header and Johnson did the rest, finishing strongly with her right foot to make it 1-0 on her second goal of the season.
 
Following the opening minutes, the first half was mostly spent in MKE territory, but a second goal did not come until near the break despite a 10-to-3 advantage in shots over the opening 45 minutes.
 
And the second goal came off a turnover, as Maggie Woods stole the ball from a backline WSU defender and left it off for Kiesling, who found a way to convert past the charging keeper for her fourth goal of the season despite being knocked off her feet as she kicked it. That made it 2-0 Panthers at the 41:12 mark and came just 2:55 after she subbed into the contest.
 
WSU came out quickly in the second half and found a way to make it a game, with Destiny Johnson in the right place at the right time to drill in a ball played back to her by the Milwaukee defense in the 48^th minute.
 
The goal changed the complexion of the match, giving the Raiders some momentum that carried through for a stretch of game action. Over the next 15 minutes they turned that into a pair of corner kicks and three shots, but the Milwaukee defense was up to the task.
 
The Panthers did have a chance to make it 3-1 late. Johnson had her shot from the wing – following passes from Rafferty Kugler and Schill to get her wide open – saved impressively at the post by the WSU keeper to keep it 2-1.
 
For the game, Milwaukee posted advantages of 19-to-6 in shots, 10-to-3 in shots on goal, and 4-to-2 in corner kicks while also claiming a 61/39 advantage in possession in the match. The shots were spread over the MKE offense, with nine different players recording at least one, topped by three apiece from Johnson and Rachel Phillpotts.
 
Elaina LaMacchia was credited with a pair of saves to pick up the victory.
 
Up next, the Panthers head to Pennsylvania to take on Robert Morris Sunday. Game time against the Colonials is set for 12 p.m. CST.