MILWAUKEE – Despite a pair of goals from Raul Medina and a strong comeback effort, the Milwaukee men's soccer team dropped its regular-season finale against Green Bay Wednesday evening at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (4-9-4, 2-5-2 Horizon League) grabbed the early lead against the Phoenix (8-3-5, 5-2-2 Horizon League) but fell behind before mounting a comeback attempt that came up short in a 4-2 decision in the annual battle for the "Chancellor's Cup".
 
In a game that was delayed three hours due to field conditions from the overnight inclement weather and a temperature at kickoff in the mid-30's, Milwaukee came out the aggressor and struck first on a great-looking goal from Medina. Colin Alba started the push towards goal, finding Bienvenu Djunga on the left wing. He drove towards the net and laid off to Medina, finding a tough touch that hit the upper-90 at the far post for the 1-0 advantage.
 
"I thought we got off to a really good start," head coach Kris Kelderman said. "We scored the first goal and again, it's one of those games where I thought we had spurts where we looked pretty good. And the thing is, we have been saying that all year long. We struggled with capitalizing on the opportunities that we built for ourselves, which were pretty plentiful and that's a good thing."
 
The lead held up until the 16^th minute before the visitors took a 2-1 advantage on a play that started with a goal kick.
 
"And of course, the opponent gets an opportunity and we get bit," Kelderman said. "I just wish that we could have put away our chances like that. But give Green Bay a lot of credit, when they had opportunities to score, they did."
 
Down 2-1 at the break, Milwaukee dug itself a deeper hole on a header off a corner kick that made it 3-1. Down, but not out, the team fought on, seeing Medina and Djunga play a give-and-go to pull one back at the 58:24 mark.
 
Daniel Ibarra then made a brilliant save on the next Phoenix possession and Medina gave it a go from the top of the 18 in the 61^st minute that looked headed to the net for the hat trick. However, a brilliant diving save pushed the attempt just wide and then GB followed with the insurance goal it needed at the 77:00 mark make it 4-2.
 
"I told the guys after the game – obviously we are all disappointed in the result and the season – but I told them I walk away very proud of them," Kelderman said. "We went down 3-1 and 4-2 and they were fighting just as hard, if not harder, than they did from the first minute. Knowing our situation [the team knew it's opportunity to advance to the postseason was no longer alive when the game started], it's tough for any athlete to stay motivated and you have some other things you are trying to convince yourself to play for – some pride, some character."
 
The team kept fighting, coming close twice in the closing minutes, both from Abdu Regassa. The first came on a nice pass from Medina, only to see the shot hit the right post in the 84^th minute. Then, in the 87^th, the GB goalkeeper made a spectacular save on a close-up shot from Regassa and that was it.
 
"It was a tall task for the guys coming into this game knowing the situation we were in," Kelderman said. "These guys were fighting hard … even with 15 seconds left on the clock … for me as a coach that is pretty cool. Some of these guys I have had five years now. And they are feeling it, but I am very proud of what they brought and their will to try to accomplish something today to the very end. As a coach, you can't ask for anything more than that."
 
For the match, Green Bay posted an 18-15 edge in total shots, with MKE the 9-8 edge in shots on goal. The Phoenix also earned five of the nine corner kicks on the night. Medina led the way with four shots, finishing with his first multi-goal performance of his collegiate career. Ibarra was credited with four saves.
 
The result will conclude the 2023 campaign for the team.