Horizon League play is in full swing this week, with the Milwaukee women's soccer team hitting the road to take on a Cleveland State program that is also off to a 2-0 start, as well as coming back home on the weekend to play host to Youngstown State.

Thursday's matchup will be streamed on ESPN+, while Sunday's affair will have an audio stream on the Black & Gold Network available with Matt Menzl on the call. Both matches will have live statistics available and all links are available on the MKE website. Game time is set for 5 p.m. CST Thursday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

The squad remains ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Association North Region poll this week, checking in again at No. 8 after reaching as high as fifth in Week #2 - the same poll date they received votes in the national Top 25.

Milwaukee is a near-perfect 21-0-1 all-time against the Vikings (10-0 on the road), with the only draw coming in a 1-1 decision in the 2014 campaign. The team is on a seven-game winning streak in the matchup, including four by shutout and a combined goal differential of 20-3 in that stretch. Jelena Sever scored both goals to lead MKE to a 2-1 win in 2020 at the Krenzler Bubble.

The Panthers have also dominated the series with Youngstown State to the tune of 17-2-0. Included in that is a stretch of 11 MKE wins in a row as well as the current streak of five straight victories. Two years ago (the teams did not play in spring), a barrage of second-half goals by Milwaukee turned a scoreless game at the half into a comfortable 4-0 victory.

LOOKING AT THE OPPONENTS:
CLEVELAND STATE: The Vikings are coming off a spring 2020 campaign that saw them go 6-4-0, finishing fifth. The team finished strong, posting three consecutive wins to narrowly miss the postseason. CSU was then selected to finish sixth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll. Returning for the Vikings is the reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Year Kathryn Ramicone, who finished as the top point scorer in the league (14), coming on five goals, which tied her for the league lead, and four assists.

The squad is 3-5-1 to start the week, but is 2-0 in conference action after picking up a forfeit win against IUPUI and then topping Detroit Mercy, 2-1, in overtime Sept. 19. Maddie Young leads the way in points (5), goals (2), and shots on goal (5) and is second shots (7). In goal, three players have earned starts, with Kyla Valaitis posting a 1.40 GAA and .727 save percentage in four starts.

YOUNGSTOWN STATE: The Penguins returned 22 letterwinners and eight starters from last year's team, including six of seven goal scorers and three goalkeepers. YSU posted a 1-7-1 ledger in the spring 2020 campaign, and were predicted to finish eighth in the Horizon League preseason poll.

It's been a tough 0-6-3 start to 2021, but the team has played better of late and is 0-1-3 in its past four, which includes draws to open Horizon League play against both Oakland (1-1 Sept. 16) and Wright State (1-1- Sept. 19). Regan LaVigna and Abriana Rondin both lead the offense with five points (2G/1A) each; LaVigna tops the Penguins with 15 shots. In net, three goalkeepers have split time, with Zeeyana Jivraj earning the majority of it (423:30 of 870 minutes), posting a 2.34 goals-against average and .744 save percentage.

SHARING IS CARING
Not only does Gaby Schwartz lead the NATION in both total assists (11) and assists-per-game (1.38), but she is now within striking distance of the MKE career record in that category. In addition, she is looking to become the first Panther to lead the team in the category in three consecutive campaigns (Maria Stephans, Kate Megna, Amanda Winn, and Mara Thompson have done it twice) and is already the first to lead the league in back-to-back seasons.

That career spot currently belongs to Kate Megna, who recorded 36 assists in her time with the Panthers from 2006 thru 2009.

Schwartz already stands No. 2 on the list.
1. Megna 36 (2006-09)
2. Schwartz 34 (2016-2021)
3. Three players tied at 26

The season record is also within reach:
1. Megna: 16 in 2009
2. Five players with 12, most recently Erin Corrigan in 2018

NOT TOO SHABBY
When it comes to Horizon League openers, the record is quite impressive all-time. Milwaukee has now gone 25-2-1 in opening action (since joining the league in 1994), with a string of 14 wins in a row from 1998 through 2011. The squad has victories in each of the past nine as well, following the win over WSU in 2021.

The Panthers have had a very long line of success when it comes to Horizon League play, claiming the regular-season title in five of the past six seasons (2015-19) as well as 19 of the past 21 titles overall. In fact, under the watch of Troy Fabiano, the team posted a sparkling 47-2-4 ledger over the past six campaigns (coming into 2021) in regular-season conference play.

SPECTATOR POLICY
The Milwaukee Panther Athletic Department announced that fans will be allowed at all home Panther fall athletic events this year. In a decision that was made by Athletics and University leadership, no capacity limits will be in place, but adherence to the current Milwaukee Public Health and CDC recommendations will be followed. UWM policy directs that all individuals are required to wear a face covering indoors, regardless of vaccination status, when at a home Milwaukee Panther Athletics event this fall. Outdoors, masks are encouraged but not required when around other people.

TOPS IN THE LAND (OR CLOSE!)
Three weeks after sitting in first place in 11 different NCAA categories, the Panthers continue to add to their run during the 2021 season. MKE still leads the nation in assists per game and points per game, while also sitting in the Top 15 in four more.

First in the NCAA in:
Assists Per Game (5.1 apg)
Points Per Game (12.1 ppg)

Other high ranks include:

Shots on Goal Per Game (11.8 SOGPG/3rd)
Scoring Offense (4.0 gpg/T-4th)
Shutout Percentage (.750/5th)
Goals-Against Average (0.37/14th)

In addition, Jelena Sever is tied for the top spot in the NCAA with her four game-winning goals and Gaby Schwartz leads the nation in assists per-game (1.38 apg) and is first in total assists (11) as well, while Elaina LaMacchia is 20th with her 0.45 GAA and 25th with her .875 save percentage.

SPREAD THE WEALTH
One of the more impressive stats on the 2021 Panthers is the depth and balance of the team. The 28 goals have now been scored by 10 different players, while 18 total players have recorded points. For comparison, 16 players recorded points all of last season and the last time MKE had more than 18 players record points was 2016 - when 22 players recorded goals or assists over the course of a 20-game schedule.

THE SCHILL EXPRESS
Mackenzie Schill was named Horizon League Player of the Week Aug. 30, marking the third time in her career she has received the honor. She was recognized after scoring a pair of goals in the blowout of Eastern Kentucky, part of her league-leading total of six on the season - also a total that currently stands tied for 15th in the NCAA.

SLICK SCORE SEVER
The Panthers dominated Eastern Kentucky from the opening whistle Aug. 27, finding the back of the net nearly quicker than any game in program history. Jelena Sever one-timed a cross from Natalie Auble into the back of the net just 47 seconds into the match, checking in as the fifth-fastest goal to start a game in program history.
1.    0:26    10/27/98      Loyola      Katie Waltenberger
2.    0:40    8/21/11      DePaul      Kelly Lewers
3.    0:41    9/30/94      Butler      Lisa Krzykowski
4.    0:44    9/28/16      Valparaiso      Anna Smalley
5.    0:47    8/27/21      Eastern Ky.      Jelena Sever

Sever also picked up Horizon League Player of the Week honors Sept. 7, following back-to-back games in which she netted the game-winning goal. It marked the fifth time she has won the honor in her career.

FOR OPENERS
The Panthers opened 2021 against Northern Illinois with a 6-0 victory, moving to 15-14-3 in season openers at the NCAA Division I level. The team has now gone 6-2-2 in season openers the past 10 years, with a 1-0 victory over Western Illinois in Troy Fabiano's debut in 2015 snapping a three-game stretch without a victory (Fabiano himself is now an unbeaten 6-0-1). A season ago, MKE opened the campaign with a 5-1 victory over Robert Morris on the road. In addition, the Panthers are now 18-2 in home openers.

Speaking of debuts, the six goals marked the most in program history for a lid-lifter, topping the five scored against Robert Morris to open the 2020 campaign. Four had not been scored in over 30 years (4-2 over St. Norbert in 1988 and 4-0 over St. Mary's (IN) in 1987), while three has also been recorded on four different occasions.

FULL SPEED AHEAD
Natalie Auble put together a spectacular debut against Northern Illinois in the opener, accounting for five points. She scored the second and third goals and then assisted the fourth, with her 2G/1A effort marking the best opening line since Sarah Hagen had same output against Michigan State back in a 3-2 win to open 2011.

She was rewarded with Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week honors for her efforts, the first time receiving the honor in her career. She was joined by Elaina LaMacchia, who picked up HL Defensive Player of the Week honors for the sixth time in her career. LaMacchia posted a pair of combined shutouts (both with Allie Strottman) against Northern Illinois and Western Illinois, accumulating 133:12 of shutout action with six total saves between the two matches.

LOOK OUT FOR LESLEY
Lesley Kiesling put together one of the more impressive performances off the bench in recent time against Western Illinois Aug. 22, finishing the day with a pair of goals on six shots - with all six attempts on goal - in just 38 minutes of action. She netted her first goal a mere 96 seconds after subbing in and scored again just 5:05 later. She is the first Panther to score twice off the bench since Jelena Sever recorded a brace against Indiana State in a 2-0 win back in September of 2019.

AND KAT TOO!
Kat Van Booven was just as impressive, netting a pair of goals and adding an assist as the Panthers routed Eastern Kentucky Aug. 27. She recorded five shots, four of which were on goal, and did it all in just 40 minutes of playing time, scoring in the 77th and 86th minutes against the Colonels.

BACK FOR MORE
Half of last year's senior class has taken advantage of the COVID-year of eligibility and is returning for an encore. The group of Rachel Phillpotts, Gaby Schwartz, and Mackenzie Schill has gone an impressive 58-6-7 overall (.866 winning percentage), including a stellar 31-1-3 (.929) in conference play (heading into 2021). They have claimed three Horizon League regular-season titles and gone to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons. For perspective, half of their six overall losses in their span on campus have come in season-ending defeats in the NCAA Tournament.

SETTING THE TONE
Milwaukee continued its recent trend of picking up victories after getting on the board first. The Panthers went a perfect 9-0 when finding the back of the net first in 2020, which included a 7-0 mark when leading at halftime. That now improves the squad to 63-0 the past four-plus seasons (includes 2021 action) after getting the first goal of a game after a 17-0 ledger in 2019, 16-0 in 2018, and 14-0 in 2017. They are also 54-1-6 when outshooting their opponent in that same span, getting outshot just 14 times over the four-year stretch.

HOME SWEET HOME
After playing just three home games during the COVID-shortened season this past spring, the Panthers are doing something that has never been done before: playing seven consecutive contests at Engelmann Stadium for the first time in program history. In fact, MKE will not play a road game until traveling to Pennsylvania to take on Robert Morris Sept. 19 - one full month after the season opener. Prior to this fall, the longest stretch of home games to OPEN a season was four, set in 2018. Also prior to this homestand, the longest of ANY kind during a campaign was five, occurring in 2019.

RECAPPING THE 2020 SPRING NCAA TRIP
The Panthers made their 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 13th with the Horizon League's automatic berth this past spring. Milwaukee made previous tournament trips in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008-13, 2018, and 2019. The team has previously been sent to Minnesota (1997), Madison (2009/2019), Ann Arbor (2013), Santa Clara (2018), Notre Dame three times (2006, 2008, 2012) and across town to Marquette four times (2001-02, 2005, 2010). They also hosted their 2011 first-round match.

With the win over Elon, the team has now posted an all-time mark in the event of 2-14-2, also claiming a 3-0 victory over Illinois State at home in 2011 in addition to advancing to the second round following PK shootouts in both 2006 (T, 0-0 vs. Michigan/advance 5-3) and 2005 (T, 0-0 vs. Purdue/advance 6-5).

HOW THEY GOT THERE
The Panthers earned the Horizon League's automatic bid following a thrilling penalty-kick shootout after they played top-seeded Northern Kentucky to a 0-0 draw through regulation and two overtime periods. Horizon League Tournament MVP Elaina LaMacchia came up big in the PK round, making saves in rounds four and five to send Milwaukee to the title by a final score of 4-3. Although the game officially goes into the books as a tie, the Panthers advanced with the decision to claim the Horizon League Tournament championship, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season and the 14th time in program history.

POSTSEASON SIX-PACK OF PANTHERS
Milwaukee landed six different players with postseason honors in 2020, highlighted by Rachel Phillpotts and Jelena Sever earning First-Team All-Horizon League honors. Earning second-team status was Mackenzie Schill, Taylor Hattori, and Elaina LaMacchia, with newcomer Clara Broecker picking up a spot on the Horizon League All-Freshman Team. In addition, three members of the team were named to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Team. Phillpotts was selected as a member of the First Team, with Sever and Natalie Auble earning a spot on the Second Team. The honors were career-firsts for each player and mark the first time since 2013 that the Panthers had three players earn all-region accolades.

IS THIS GOOD? ... ASKING FOR A FRIEND
Let's be honest, the Panthers have been very good since the start of the 2017 campaign. How good? Well, at 58-6-7 (.866), they actually have the second-best winning percentage in the nation over that span heading into 2021. The only one higher is 2019 & 2017 NCAA National Champion Stanford, who has a 75-9-4 (.875) ledger over the same time frame. No. 3 on that list is North Carolina (80-11-5/.859), with Georgetown (60-9-12/.815), UCLA (67-12-9/.813), and Duke (60-15-14/.753) to follow.

WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE!!
Milwaukee went 5-1-4 at home in Troy Fabiano's first season back in 2015. Since then, the Panthers have posted an impressive 44-6-4 ledger at Engelmann Stadium (an .852 winning percentage), including a perfect 11-0 run through home outings in the fall of 2019.

THE BEAT WENT ON FOR A LONG TIME
The Panthers ran into something they hadn't seen in a long time March 3, 2020, when they faced IUPUI ... a regular-season Horizon League loss. In fact, to put it in perspective, it had been 1,617 days since that last occurred, a 2-1 defeat in overtime to Valparaiso on Sept. 28, 2016. More impressively, just one player - redshirt senior Gaby Schwartz - was even on the roster at that point in time. Every other MKE player on the field was still unbeaten in their league careers up until that game against the Jaguars. That brings that epic streak to an end at 36 games, with the unbeaten streak in regular-season league play easily the best in Horizon League history (33-0-3). It also snapped Milwaukee's winning streak in home games during regular-season play at 31 (29-0-2), dating back to a 1-0 loss to Iowa State in overtime on Sept. 11, 2016. Both streaks were the second-longest of their kind in the nation and it only adds to the recent resume, joining the list with its overall unbeaten streak (at a Horizon League and school-record total of 27 [23-0-4]) that came to an end in the early portion of the 2018 campaign.

GETTING IN ON THE FUN
Not only did Elaina LaMacchia record her 19th career shutout against Wright State Feb. 24 last season, but she did something no MKE goalkeeper had done in nearly 15 years. She recorded the first assist for a Milwaukee keeper since Erin Kane in 2006 late in the match, when her goal kick was flicked downfield by a header from Haley Steel. The pass created a one-on-one opportunity for Natalie Auble, who netted her second goal of the season to cap the scoring at the 79:30 mark.

PRESEASON POLL
Milwaukee was picked by league coaches to again take first in the upcoming Horizon League regular season, according to the results of the preseason poll announced today by the league office. The Panthers tallied nine first-place votes and 130 points in the coaches' poll to claim the No. 1 spot. Northern Kentucky came in second, earning 120 points (one first-place vote), while Oakland also picked up one of the other two remaining first-place votes and accumulated 112 points in third.
 
The Panthers have now landed in the top spot in the preseason poll each of the last five seasons; part of a total of 19 times overall since 2000 (as well as an amazing run of 13 straight from 2000-2012).

2021 PRESEASON POLL
1. Milwaukee – 130 (9)
2. Northern Kentucky – 120 (1)
3. Oakland – 112 (1)
4. UIC – 111
5. IUPUI – 104
6. Cleveland State – 91
7. Wright State – 73
8. Youngstown State – 46 (1)
9. Green Bay – 44
10. Purdue Fort Wayne – 42
11. Detroit Mercy – 41
12. RMU – 22

SETTING THE BAR
Troy Fabiano became the first-ever Horizon League field boss to be named Coach of the Year five times in a row (Notre Dame's Chris Petricelli was the only other to reach four straight from 1991 to 1994). Fabiano helped his team to its fifth straight Horizon League regular-season crown in 2019 and has now gone 47-2-4 in his six seasons in conference – as well as a near-unbeaten 31-1-3 the past three campaigns. Not only that, but his 82 victories are easily the most wins over the first six years of any coach in program history.

OFFENSIVE DEFENSE
Back-line defender Gaby Schwartz enjoyed a breakout 2019 campaign on the offensive side of the ball, finishing in fifth place in the Horizon League with 21 points (6G/9A), while her assists total led the conference and finished in the top 30 in the nation. It was easily a career-high for Schwartz, topping the six points (all on assists) that she recorded over her first two years with the Panthers. She was named the Horizon League "Offensive" Player of the Week Sept. 9, following a stretch where she netted back-to-back game-winners against Eastern Illinois and Butler, as well as three assists on the other six MKE goals in the pair of outings. Not only is the award the first of Schwartz's career, it is also the first time an MKE defender has claimed the offensive side of the award since Amy Kauffung in August of 2012. She produced in the same fashion in 2020, with her eight assists once again leading the Horizon League.

THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR
Milwaukee recorded 1-0 victories in three of its last five contests to claim the Horizon League crown in 2018. That 1-0 scoreline has a familiar ring to it, as the team has been simply amazing in games featuring that final score recently. Since Troy Fabiano stepped on campus, the Panthers have played 29 games that ended 1-0 (either way). Their record? An impressive 23-6 in those pressure-packed outings throughout his entire tenure.

JUST WIN BABY
The Panthers closed the 2019 campaign on an impressive streak, posting 15 consecutive games without a loss prior to the NCAA Tournament (the 14-0-1 marked the second-best unbeaten stretch in program history) - with eight of the final nine decisions in that span via the shutout. The team also recorded 11 straight wins for just the second time in program history against IUPUI Oct. 23. The school record of 11 consecutive victories was accomplished in 2006 when the team finished 16-4-2. In addition to 2019, Milwaukee also won 10 in a row in the 2009 and 2017 campaigns.

THIS GUY IS FAB-ULOUS
Troy Fabiano was named the eighth head coach in program history in early 2015 and brought with him a very impressive resume. In his 17 years at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Fabiano went 222-74-29, a winning percentage of over 75 percent. Fabiano guided Parkside to 16 consecutive winning seasons, eight NCAA Tournament appearances and five Great Lakes Valley Conference championships. He earned three GLVC Coach of the Year awards and was named the Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2008, 2010 and 2014. In his last season of 2014, the squad went 18-1-3 and earned a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16 before falling to the eventual national champion in overtime.

CATCH THEM IN ACTION
Milwaukee women's soccer will be available for the viewing pleasure of MKE fans this season, as seven of the 12 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 $6.99 a month (or $69.99 per year) and cancel at any time. Launched in April of 2018, ESPN+ is an integrated part of a completely redesigned ESPN App. MKE games that are not scheduled to appear on ESPN+ will have an audio stream available (for free) on the team's schedule page.

ON TAP
Horizon League play continues with a home game against Purdue Fort Wayne, set for a 7 p.m. kick Oct. 2.