MILWAUKEE – Gijs Van Schouten made a big save on a penalty kick in the 60^th minute to help the Milwaukee men's soccer team hold on to a 1-1 draw against Western Illinois Tuesday night at Engelmann Stadium.
 
"It was a frustrating result for our group based on how we played and the number of chances that we created – and quality chances that we created and had," head coach Kris Kelderman said. "We have to buckle down and get sharper in front of the goal."
 
The Panthers (1-3-2) deserved a better fate against the Leathernecks (0-3-3), outshooting the visitors 21-10 on the evening while narrowly missing what would have proved to be a decisive goal numerous times down the stretch.
 
"A positive is, we not only created a lot of chances, but some of those were from pretty close and need to be buried, and we failed to do that tonight," Kelderman said. "The fact that we didn't get a win tonight, I told the guys 'that's on us'. The quality and execution in our final play in front of the goal really decided the draw tonight. But, we keep plugging away knowing that Saturday things only get tougher and we have to find a way to score a couple more goals and do well in league play."
 
Tied 1-1 at intermission, the MKE offense nearly struck for the lead at the 58:04 mark, with Logan Farrington forcing a full-out diving save by the WIU keeper to keep it level.
 
On the next Western possession, a foul in the box turned into a PK opportunity for the visitors. Van Schouten was up to the task, diving low and left for the huge stop at the 59:33 mark.
 
"In all honestly, I think a 4-2 result in this game would be very fair to say what should have been the scoreline," Kelderman said. "They got a PK, and it was the right call. With the chances that we had, we should have had more goals. And we have been challenged with that so far this season. It is something, with conference play starting this weekend, there is going to be even more pressure on these games. Things are going to get harder come Saturday."
 
Milwaukee got off to a strong start once again, finding its first goal in the 24^th minute on a pretty header by Gabe Anguil. The goal was created by Raul Medina, who picked up a loose ball from the defense and carried it down the left flank. A perfect serve to the far post followed, with Anguil netting his first of the season.
 
The lead was short-lived, however, seeing WIU's Xavier Brown score from distance after a clearance by the MKE defense went right back the other way, making it 1-1 in the 30^th minute.
 
The Panthers did have their chances all night, starting in the first half. Quinn Rechner nearly had a goal off a Medina corner kick, sending the header a foot wide of the post in the 16^th minute. On the possession before the WIU goal, Gabe Thistle missed a tack-on strike by inches, sending a nice pass from Abdu Regassa off the left post and back into play in the 29^th minute.
 
The second half was all Milwaukee as far as dangerous chances went following the PK save.
 
The Farrington shot that was saved in the 59^th again came from Regassa, while David Cox sent his first attempt just wide in the 65^th.
 
It was Cox again on a long free kick from Medina, unable to get a full strike at the post before being corralled. Rechner started another quality chance in the 78^th, sending a long ball to Farrington. His header went to the near post for Josh Kidder, only to send the ball inches wide of the woodwork and keep the draw rolling.
 
Van Schouten made an impressive same in the 84^th minute to hold the result, while Kidder narrowly missed playing hero late, again sending a well-struck shot into the side netting off a combo of passes from Rechner and Shawn Azcueta in the closing minute of regulation.
 
For the game, the 21-10 advantage in shots for the MKE offense included a 7-5 edge in shots on goal as well as 55 percent possession. Milwaukee also earned eight of the 10 corner kicks. Kidder paced the offensive showing with seven shots; Anguil ended the evening with five. Van Schouten picks up his second draw in as many starts, finishing with four total saves.
 
Up next, the team opens Horizon League play Saturday, hosting Robert Morris in a contest set to kick off at 3 p.m.