MILWAUKEE – David Cox netted a pair of goals and assisted the third score as the Milwaukee men's soccer team earned a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Robert Morris Saturday afternoon at Engelmann Stadium.
 
"A lot was said at halftime by everybody, coaching staff and players," head coach Kris Kelderman said about the halftime deficit. "We made a decision that we had to be better and there were a few things we had to fix in a short amount of time. I thought the response right from the get-go in the second half was very good. I think we took over the game."
 
The Panthers (3-4-1, 1-2 Horizon League) trailed the Colonials (3-3-2, 1-2 Horizon League) at the break but put together an impressive second-half performance to pick up the important league victory on a perfect day for soccer in the fall, played in front of a large contingent of former members of the program on "Alumni Day".
 
"Overall, it was a great result for us," Kelderman said. "We needed the three points in conference play and it happened on an awesome day with a bunch of alumni back, specifically a guy who I always looked up to – former coach Bob Gansler was present. As far as I am concerned, it was a perfect day."
 
After trailing at the break, the MKE offense came out of the locker room on the front foot. A couple of opportunities presented quickly, with Abdu Regassa nearly leveling the match on a nice pass from Asher Ozuzu in the 55^th minute.
 
"Although I wasn't totally disappointed in the first half, we did have a couple of good opportunities to score a goal," Kelderman said. "And obviously, going up a goal makes things a lot easier and affects how you play the game. They caught one in the first half and we didn't and we had to respond and be more aggressive and more offensive-minded in the second half and it worked out well."
 
It was Regassa again a few minutes later, getting into open space in the box for another chance. His goal try was saved nicely, with Cox there to bury the rebound and make it 1-1 at the 59:20 mark.
 
Not even three minutes later, Cox recorded the first brace of his collegiate career when he blasted in the penalty kick at the 62:18 mark to forge ahead, 2-1. That spot kick presented itself when Alan Lopez was taken down by a foul in the box.
 
The offense kept up the pressure and broke through for what looked like an insurance tally in the 78^th. It was Cox that started the scoring play out of the midfield, hitting Daiki Kumakawa in stride down the right side. Kumakawa's quick service to the box was deflected slightly to Arthur Souza, who did the rest, finding the back of the net for the first time in his Panther career to make it 3-1.
 
That turned out to be a huge goal. As the clock ticked down, RMU pushed to score and nearly had a second one. Kumakawa was in the right spot in the 88^th minute to clear a would-be goal off the line. Souza's tally then turned into the game-winner when Robert Morris scored off a scrambled corner kick with just 72 seconds left on the clock.
 
"I thought the effort was really good," Kelderman said. "I told the guys after the game, 'kudos on the victory', but the restart goal we gave up with one minute left was disappointing. We can't allow that to happen because you never know."
 
Despite trailing 1-0 at intermission, the Panther offense had a few good looks in the opening 45. Raul Medina appeared to net a goal directly off a corner kick in the 24^th and just missed after forcing a tough, diving save off a pass from Ozuzu in the 31^st minute. Lopez also had a volleyed chance stopped at the line in the 33^rd to keep it 0-0 at the time.
 
On the day, Milwaukee posted advantages of 17-14 in total shots, the 9-8 edge in shots on target, and six of the 10 corner kicks. Cox led the way with four shot attempts and finished with a career-high five points (2G/1A). In net, Daniel Ibarra was credited with five saves in picking up the victory.
 
Up next, the team is off midweek before heading to Michigan Saturday to battle Oakland. Kickoff is slated for a 12 pm start.