MILWAUKEE – Kayla Rollins scored both goals and the Milwaukee women's soccer team put on an impressive display on offense in claiming a 2-0 victory over Lindenwood in the home opener Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Stadium.
 
"Any time you are at home, you want to set the tone and be really aggressive and I thought we were … 31 shots and 12 corners, I think attributes to that," head coach Kevin Boyd said. "That is what we were going for in just terms of being on the front foot and attacking the entire time."
 
The Panthers (2-1) dominated from start to finish against the Lions (1-2-1) and just missed opening up the scoreboard, hitting the crossbar or post on five separate occasions over the course of the afternoon.
 
"Really give credit to Lindenwood," Boyd said. "They don't have any give-up in them," Boyd said. "They battled the entire time and their goalkeeper was spectacular. I was really impressed with her. There was a reason we didn't score more than two and she was it."
 
Parker Donahugh completed her weekend with a pair of shutouts in goal for MKE, called upon for just one save for her second clean sheet this week.
 
Milwaukee held 65 percent of possession on the day and finished with advantages of 31-4 in shots, 14-1 in shots on goal, and 12-1 in corner kicks yet only led 1-0 at the break after an impressive 8-save opening period by Lindenwood's Sam Blazek.
 
She held her own early and was helped by the post at the 8:00 mark, seeing Senya Meurer just miss the mark. Lexi Blaser had a solid chance saved off a header from a corner kick in the 12^th minute, and again with a stop of a header from Haley Johnson in the 14^th minute.
 
The early pressure finally was rewarded after Lainey Higgins was fouled in the box to give MKE a penalty kick. Rollins zipped it through and the lead was 1-0 at the 19:06 mark.
 
"Lainey did a great job getting into the box and getting into a dangerous spot and getting fouled for the PK and Kayla put it away very, very well – was a great finish on the PK," Boyd said. "She has been exceptional so far this year – absolutely a warrior and that's what we have been talking to her about."
 
Breanna Culver looked to make it 2-0 before intermission, one-timing a well-struck ball off service from Payton Green, but Blazek again made the amazing stop at the 43:40 mark to keep it at 1-0.
 
The Panthers recorded 18 shots in the first half and added 14 more in the second, with Rollins nearly adding more goals to her totals for the day. Her finish of a Kat Van Booven pass was nicely stopped in the 49^th, with the ball ricocheting back to her for another attempt that was saved in an even more impressive fashion.
 
Rollins and Van Booven then also added shots off the woodwork in the 57^th and 59^th minute, with Rollins finally breaking through on a header off a corner kick in the 62^nd, assisted by Elizabeth Reece.
 
Rollins paced the offense with five shots (4 on goal), while Culver recorded four, and Blaser and Higgins each finished with three. Blazek registered 11 saves for the visitors. In all, 21 different players saw the field, with 13 of them recording shots.
 
"I thought the players that came in gave us energy and some excitement," Boyd said. "We have been seeing that in training. Our group that is kind of 'waiting in the wings' is dangerous and can do some good things."
 
Up next, the early non-league slate continues with a road trip through the state of Illinois, stopping to take on Western Illinois Friday night followed by Illinois State Sunday afternoon.