MILWAUKEE – Emil Lindgren Pedersen netted a pair of second-half goals to help the Milwaukee men's soccer team overcome a 2-0 halftime deficit and earn a 2-2 draw against IUPUI Saturday night at Engelmann Stadium.
 
"The response was excellent," head coach Kris Kelderman said about the second half effort. "They came out with energy right from minute one to the very end. I just wish that was there from the beginning of the game. I told the guys after the game, I thought the second half was excellent."
 
The Panthers (1-6-4, 0-2-2 Horizon League) overcame a tough start against the Jaguars (1-4-5, 0-1-3 Horizon League) with a much-improved second-half performance from both sides of the ball, helping MKE earn a point in the league standings.
 
"We actually not only could have, but should have, had one or two more goals," Kelderman said. "We are struggling to put together a complete game. If we had the approach with our intensity and effort that we had in the second half in the first half, then this game is a lot different. We are just challenged right now with limiting mistakes and feels like we are giving a goal or two away every night. Doesn't matter how good you are, if you put yourself behind the eight-ball like that, that's hard to do and just putting added pressure on ourselves."
 
Facing that 2-0 deficit still 10 minutes into the second period, Lindgren Pedersen took matters into his own hands, picking up a turnover in back and sending a blast from beyond midfield up-and-over the IUPUI keeper, who had come off his line. The bomb from well over 50 yards had just enough on it, caroming off the hands of the keeper to make it 2-1 at the 54:52 mark.
 
That came just after the offense had started connecting, with Logan Farrington forcing a tough save in the 54^th minute before nearly netting his sixth goal of the fall in the 62^nd, seeing a diving stop push the attempt just wide of the post.
 
Dontell Gilyard came through with a huge defensive play next, somehow keeping an IUPUI shot out of the goal that had beaten the keeper in the 69^th minute by charging into goal and seeing the ball deflect off his back and back into play.
 
A Farrington header was saved nicely in the 77^th minute before Lindgren Pedersen then found the equalizer in the 83^rd. The play started from the sideline, with Gabe Anguil sending service into the box. David Cox chipped it ahead and Lindgren Pedersen then beat the IUPUI GK to the loose ball and volleyed his fourth goal of the campaign into the back of the net to make it 2-2 at the 82:19 mark.
 
"He's had a number of goals over the past few games," Kelderman said. "We need more players stepping up in tough moments and right now, he has been able to do that."
 
The big second half evened out the statline for the evening, seeing the Panthers end up with a 19-18 edge in shots (15-10 after intermission), as well as a 9-7 advantage in shots on goal. The game also featured 19 corner kicks (MKE had 9), as well as 36 total fouls (22-14 IUPUI) and 10 yellow cards (6-4 IUPUI). Farrington and Lindgren Pedersen each finished with a team-high four shots, three of which were on goal apiece. Anguil had three shots and picked up his league-leading sixth assist of the year. In net, Gijs Van Schouten was credited with four saves.
 
Just one game on the schedule next, but it's a big one, as the team heads to Green Bay to take on the Phoenix in the battle for the "Chancellor's Cup". Game time is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.