MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's soccer team opened up the offense in the second half and turned a 2-0 halftime lead into an impressive 4-0 victory over Detroit Mercy Thursday night at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (7-3-3, 4-1-2 Horizon League) got a goal and assist from both Kat Van Booven and Stephanie Recinos to leapfrog the Titans (6-8-1, 4-4 Horizon League) in the Horizon League standings and finish the evening alone in second place in the conference standings.
 
"Credit to Detroit, they made it a battle the entire time," head coach Kevin Boyd said. "It wasn't easy and the conditions weren't great. It wasn't just the cold factor, but the wind was gusting so much and I think that was difficult for both teams. When it was 2-0 the game was still very live and there was no question that they had every chance to get back into it. Our keeper made a spectacular save with two minutes last in the first half – I don't know how she got to it, but somehow she did – they could have made it 2-1 right there."
 
The win was a big one for Milwaukee, extending its current unbeaten streak to six consecutive (4-0-2) on the season as well as extending its long win streak over Detroit Mercy to 16 in a row, a dominant stretch that dates back to the 2006 season.
 
"We slowly started getting more and more of the game," Boyd said of the second half. "The great thing is, we have depth. We brought in a couple of subs – we brought Steph (Recinos) in and she is a sniper. For a player with her limited minutes, she has gotten goals and that is why we keep going to her at times."
 
Kayla Rollins got things going first for the MKE offense, netting her league-leading seventh goal of the season on a header in the 18^th minute. Lainey Higgins started the play, connecting with Natalie Auble who served the ball to the front of the net. Rollins did the rest to covert the eventual game-winner at the 17:33 mark.
 
Van Booven provided the opportunity for the second goal, streaking down the left sideline before getting taken down in the box. She stepped to the spot after the foul, converting the penalty kick for her first goal of the season to double-up the advantage in the 36^th minute at 2-0.
 
Kendall Edwards came up with her biggest save of the evening late in the half, keeping the momentum on Milwaukee's side with a brilliant stop, using a full-out dive to push Julie Ann Piechocki's would-be goal wide of the post and keep it at 2-0 just before intermission.
 
Edwards would finish with her third consecutive shutout, ending the contest with a career-best five saves.
 
After a slow start to the second half both ways, the MKE offense put its foot on the gas pedal and put the game away. Higgins nearly had a goal in the 49^th minute, sending a blast off the crossbar.
 
Haley Johnson was turned away with a brilliant kick-save in the 76^th minute but would be there a few minutes later for the next goal, setting up Recinos with a pretty endline serve that was slotted just inside the near post to make it 3-0 at the 79:41 mark. Elizabeth Reece also picked up an assist on the play, freeing Johnson with a nice lead pass.
 
Van Booven created the final goal, charging into the box before sending a serve across the front of goal. Recinos looked to try a backheel, with her touch finding Abby Stoeck alone on the back post to send in her first career goal at the 82:46 mark to round out the scoring.
 
For the game, Milwaukee posted advantages of 21-13 in total shots and 9-5 in shots on goal, while also owning nine of the 12 corner kicks and 56 percent of possession on the evening. Auble, Johnson, and Van Booven led the way with three shots apiece.
 
"I think it was a great game for Kat (Van Booven) and a great game for Kendall (Edwards) as well," Boyd said. "I thought AC (Anna Champine) in the center back was very good. We had a shutout so obviously the whole back line was good, but I thought Anna had one of her best games and she doesn't always get the accolades so it's nice to recognize her as well."
 
Van Booven and Recinos each had a team-high three points (1G/1A), with Recinos now accounting for her eight points (3G/2A) on the season in just 71 total minutes of playing time across five appearances.
 
Up next, the Panthers hit the road Sunday to take on Northern Kentucky as they look to keep pace in the chase for the regular-season title. Game time against the Norse is set for 12 p.m. CST.