MILWAUKEE – A goal from Jelena Sever and another shutout from Elaina LaMacchia sent the Milwaukee women's soccer team past DePaul, 1-0, Thursday night at Engelmann Stadium.
 
"A little bit different than our first couple of games," head coach Troy Fabiano said. "We got a goal on a set piece again and we felt we were pretty good in the first half creating chances, we just didn't put them away. Second half was more of a challenge for us, just getting control of the ball. What we told them was they found a way to win and grind it out, even if it wasn't pretty."
 
The Panthers (4-0) found a goal in the 27^th minute and the defense did the rest against the Blue Demons (2-2), claiming a third straight victory in the series in the process.
 
"I am proud of them," Fabiano said. "We weren't at our best, but we found a way to win against an organized Big East team that competes really hard."
 
Milwaukee is now off to a 4-0 start for just the fourth time in program history (2018, 2011, 2008) and have yet to be scored upon, accumulating a season tally of 21-0 through the first four matches.
 
Sever found the back of the net at the 26:11 mark, heading in a ball that was also headed by Maggy Henschler back in front of goal. It was all set up after a foul, with Gaby Schwartz taking the first touch to record her sixth assist of the season – good for a tie for first place in the nation.
 
It turned into Sever's third game-winner of the season, also tying for the top spot in the NCAA in that category.
 
LaMacchia came through with her second solo shutout of the campaign, marking the 25^th clean sheet of her MKE career. She had a great night, recording a season-best five saves while being very active on corralling tough crosses in front of goal.
 
"I think she is a special goalkeeper," Fabiano said. "I think there are times when she doesn't see as much action compared to some goalkeepers. But in the second half, you really saw what she was capable of doing."
 
A couple of plays provided the late highlights, with LaMacchia going full-out on a diving stop in the 79^th minute in addition to a great team clearance out of danger by the defense as the clock was ticking down in the 89^th minute, with fans holding their breath as the Blue Demons pushed forward one last time.
 
Not a lot of quality chances for either team arose in the second half. Sever created the most dangerous one in the 60^th, nearly netting a second on a nice cross from Haley Steel.
 
In the first, Mackenzie Schill came close to a sixth goal on the season, but a nice save was made by Mollie Eriksson on a Schwartz corner kick in the 29^th minute that could have quickly doubled the lead.
 
For the game, shots finished deadlocked at 12-to-12, with MKE the edge in shots on goal, 6-to-5. The Panthers did come up with four of the five corners and were whistled for seven of the 18 fouls. Sever paced the offense with three shots, all on goal.
 
The team remains at home, hosting Illinois State Sunday. Game time against the Redbirds is set for 1 p.m.