MILWAUKEE – Behind a first-half goal from Haley Johnson and a six-save shutout from Parker Donahugh, the Milwaukee women's soccer team claimed an exciting 1-0 victory over Marquette Thursday night at Valley Fields.
 
The Panthers (1-1) kept getting better as the night wore on, topping the Golden Eagles (1-2) as the classic city series was played again following a two-year absence due to COVID-19 in front of a crowd of 1,310, handing Kevin Boyd his first victory as head coach at Milwaukee.
 
"I enjoyed being a part of this rivalry and I am sure we are going to have many back-and-forth battles," Boyd said. "It was nice to be on the positive end – we enjoyed it tonight."
 
Johnson's goal came at the 26:23 mark, calmly sending in a quality service from Kat Van Booven.
 
"It felt good to get back into it, especially since I was out a bit of last season (due to injury)," Johnson said of the game-winner. "To get back into that rhythm and have that feeling, I feel like it is good momentum for me going forward."
 
Van Booven created the chance, carrying the ball down the left wing before some impressive footwork opened space on the defender.
 
Johnson did the rest, with the senior netting the 20^th goal of her collegiate career to lead MKE to the big victory.
 
"Kat did a great job," Boyd said. "She beat her defender, she cut to her right and played a great ball into Hayley and Hayley, calm as can be, laid that ball away – a really nice finish by Haley."
 
Donahugh was big early, making a nice save at the 6-minute mark on a breakaway chance and then poking away a header at the post in the 10^th minute. She also made a full-out diving stop to her right after the Golden Eagles had a solid chance in the 40^th minute to preserve that 1-0 lead at the break.
 
"We were sloppy in the back for a while, in terms of disorganization," Boyd said. "We knew what we were facing – we got out there and … it's young players. They got into the game and forgot some of what we'd been training. We got to halftime and reminded them and in the second half we were significantly better."
 
The second half also started strong for the offense, with Lainey Higgins forcing a tough save in the 48^th minute, followed a bit later by a solid chance from Lexi Blaser that went wide.
 
The defense settled in as well, with Donahugh making an easy save in the 61^st on a ball from distance and a final stop in the 89^th to preserve the victory.
 
Meanwhile, the MKE offense kept looking for that second goal, with a flurry of action in the 87^th minute nearly seeing the Panthers break through. Kayla Rollins created a 1-v-1 opportunity to start it, followed by solid attempts from Breanna Culver and Van Booven all in a span of just 40 seconds on the clock.
 
"We need to get better in the air still, that is one of our challenges," Boyd said. "I think it was fairly even in the air, but we want to be dominant. We could have sealed it with that second goal late, but … happy to get the win, great facility, great crowd – all in all, a great rivalry and we enjoyed it."
 
For the game, the shots were even at 11-to-11, with the Golden Eagles the 6-to-3 edge in shots on goal. Fouls were also deadlocked at 11-11, while Milwaukee earned two of the six corner kicks. Higgins, Johnson, and Culver all tied with a team-high two shots.
 
Up next, the Panthers conclude the weekend with their home opener, set for Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Stadium. Milwaukee welcomes Lindenwood for a 1 p.m. matinee.