MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee men's soccer team took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Raul Medina in the 72^nd minute but were unable to hold on, settling for a 2-2 tie with Wright State Wednesday night at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (1-6-3, 0-2-1 Horizon League) overcame an early 1-0 deficit against the Raiders (2-3-4, 2-0-2 Horizon League), getting Medina's goal as well as a spectacular bicycle kick strike from Logan Farrington.
 
It wasn't meant to be again for the snakebit MKE squad, who again allowed both WSU goals off restarts, one off a throw-in and the late equalizer off a corner kick in the 79^th minute.
 
"I feel like it's 'Groundhog's Day' all over," head coach Kris Kelderman said. "We are really challenged, to say the least, on restarts. They had restart goals on a long throw-in and a corner. We know that is where we are struggling; it's what we are focused and working on, but we can't get through these restarts."
 
Scoreless at the break, things got going fast and furious starting in the 64^th minute, seeing the Raiders get on the scoreboard first. A long throw-in bounced into the 18-yard box, with Presten Manthey sending a full volley rocketing into the net for the 1-0 advantage.
 
"They are a team that is very athletic and very physical and as the game went on, they came out in the second half and were much more direct and that is hard to play against," Kelderman said. "We give away a lot of corner kicks and right now we can't get through the corners in each match. We are just having a tough time trying to find a way to win. And the only way I know is to keep plugging away."
 
Milwaukee had an answer, however, with Farrington getting his fifth of the season on one of the prettiest goals all season exactly two minutes later. Gabe Anguil started the sequence, passing off the right wing to Medina. His serve from the endline went to the far post, where Farrington did the rest to make it 1-1 at the 65:38 mark.
 
The momentum stayed in the MKE side and Medina doubled the lead in the 72^nd minute. He started the play as well, charging downfield before dropping a pass off to Farrington. Farrington found Anguil, who sent a square ball back to Medina. He did the rest, getting just enough on it to pop it into the upper right corner of the goal and make it 2-1 at the 71:57 mark.
 
Unfortunately the team could not secure the three points, seeing Wright State slot in a goal off a loose ball on a corner kick at the 78:26 mark.
 
"It's quite simple for me and it's quite simple for the guys," Kelderman said. "We have to be better in our own box on the defensive side. Plain and simple."
 
The first half saw just nine total shots, with Milwaukee the much-better chances. Anguil had one stopped at the doorstep early and then had a chance off a Medina free kick that looked headed for the net. But, WSU keeper Sebastian Jiminez got just enough of the ball to knock it off the cross bar and back into play in the 27^th minute.
 
For the game, WSU actually outshot the Panthers 17-10, while also holding a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal and earning eight of the 10 corner kicks of the night. Farrington and Medina finished with one goal and one assist each, with Anguil upping his team-leading (and now league-leading) assist total to five with the pair of helpers. Anguil, Farrington, and Emil Lindgren Pedersen all finished with three shots to lead the way.
 
In net, Gijs Van Schouten made a season-high eight saves, the second-most of his career. Included was a pair of spectacular stops, thwarting a goal on a blast from the top of the 18 in the 53^rd minute as well as an eye-opening stop at the post from close range in the 59^th minute.
 
Up next, the Panthers remain at home, welcoming IUPUI to Engelmann Stadium Saturday. The game against the Jaguars will start at 7 p.m.