MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee men's soccer team dug out of a pair of deficits to get back to even but could not overcome a quick start by Northern Kentucky on "Senior Day" in falling by a final score of 3-2 Saturday afternoon at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (4-7-3, 2-4-1 Horizon League) dominated the stat sheet against the Norse (3-9-3, 2-5 Horizon League) but found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard after a late goal by the visitors helped them escape with the 3-2 decision despite a pair of goals from Bienvenu Djunga.
 
With the game underway NKU took quick advantage of its first push towards goal, seeing Parker Vasic net a goal from an extremely difficult angle along the end line to take the 1-0 advantage just 64 seconds into the contest.
 
Milwaukee kept its composure and started the comeback, forcing four saves on decent looks before the 17th minute.
 
In the 18th, Daiki Kumakawa sent a ball ahead to midfield, with Raul Medina springing Djunga with a through ball that led to a 1-on-1 opportunity which he converted for his third goal of the season at the 18:49 mark.
 
The MKE offense kept up the pressure and nearly had another in the 24th minute. After Arthur Souza had his close-range shot blocked, his pass to Colin Alba at the top of the 18 was knocked off the right post and back into play. Eventually Djunga would appear to have a second goal, but the scoring chance was waved off due to an offsides flag.
 
NKU took advantage of a lucky bounce to jump ahead 2-1, after Daniel Ibarra was able to make a sensational save of a close-range header and another on a follow-up attempt. However, the ball bounced right back to the visitors for the finish and the goal at the 30:51 mark and take that 2-1 lead into the locker room despite the Panthers outshooting their guests by a 12-6 advantage over the opening 45 minutes.
 
Milwaukee stayed the course and Djunga leveled the match again at 2-2 on one of the prettiest goals of the season, backheeling a header off a corner kick past the NKU keeper to make it 2-2 at the 56:09 mark.
 
The offense, which ended the day with advantages of 23-12 in shots, 9-1 in corner kicks, and 54 percent of possession, kept at it. Asher Ozuzu nearly had a goal on a great build-up from Djunga and Davod Cox in the 72nd minute and a snap-header off a corner kick from Quinn Rechner was saved nicely at the line in the 80th.
 
The Norse then took advantage of a quick change of possession, sending a ball into the box on the left wing where they were able to chip the keeper and grab a 3-2 lead at the 82:59 mark. The Panthers searched for a third equalizer, but a volley from a tough angle from Abdu Regassa in the 89th minute was as close as they would come.
 
The offense was by Djunga (3 shots), who finished with the first multi-goal game for a Panther in over a calendar year, and Ozuzu (4 shots). Ibarra was credited with seven saves, just one stop off his season high.
 
The program honored the following players in a "Senior Day" ceremony prior to the start of the match: #7 Abdu Regassa, #11 Josh Kidder, #14 Quinn Rechner, #15 Arthur Souza, #19 Colin Alba, #22 Raul Medina, and #23 David Cox.
 
Up next, a pair of road games awaits as the Panthers play their final non-league contest at Wisconsin Tuesday before heading to IUPUI Saturday. Game time against the Badgers is set for 7 p.m.