MILWAUKEE – Clara Broecker scored the eventual game-winner in the seventh minute and the Milwaukee women's soccer team was in control from start to finish in recording a 4-0 victory over Western Illinois on a hot Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (3-1-2) added two more goals before halftime against the Leathernecks (1-3-1) and dominated the stat sheet to help the team improve to 9-0-1 all-time against today's opponent.
 
"We played fairly well and kept the ball, which is something we have been focusing on," head coach Kevin Boyd said. "Some of these games recently have been such a pure battle on defending that we haven't really gotten to work on our attacking and our ability to keep the ball for long stretches. Today gave us a little more of that, which is great and what we needed. That's what we talked about and were focused on that coming in and to see us execute that was exactly what we wanted."
 
Milwaukee scored on the first of its 11 corner kicks on the day, with Broecker slamming in her second of the season off a well-placed ball from Elizabeth Reece at the 6:32 mark.
 
"There was a lot of concern we had in making sure we came in with the right mentality and really battled," Boyd said. "Western Illinois can cause people problems. A lot of the teams they have played have had a very difficult time getting goals on them. And you can see why – we had a hard time. We got four, but we had 29 chances. So credit to them that they do a good job of defending and getting compact and putting numbers behind the ball."
 
Despite dominating large chunks of possession and recording numerous attempts, it took until the 31:49 mark to make it 2-0.
 
Brooke Parnello started that scoring run, sending a ball that was directed in front by Abby Stoeck. Emma Famulak fought through the defender to find Kayla Rollins streaking to goal, with a solid finish giving Rollins a score for the third game in a row to double-up the lead.
 
Less than seven minutes later, Lola Wojcik saw her shot attempt in the box go into the WIU wall and a handball was called. Stephanie Recinos stepped to the spot and buried the penalty kick and the lead was 3-0 at the 38:18 mark.
 
Despite finishing with sizeable advantages of 29-2 in shots, 9-2 in shots on goal, 11-1 in corner kicks, and 65 percent of possession, the final score came via the PK again, after Reece was tripped up in the box. Parnello took the honors and found the back of the net for her second of the season, closing out the scoring in the 4-0 affair.
 
With temps in the mid-90's and heat index closing in on triple-digits, the control of the game allowed Boyd to sub freely throughout the match. In all, 23 different players saw time against the Leathernecks, including nine substitutes that played 20-plus minutes.
 
"I thought we were better today," Boyd finished. "I was really happy with the number of players that got to get in and the quality they gave us once they got on."
 
The offense nearly had a fifth on a handful of occasions, including Rollins in the 69^th minute, but her header off a Lainey Higgins free kick caromed off the left post and back into play.
 
Cate Cullison was denied a goal from the left wing on an impressive full-out diving save by the WIU keeper in the 73^rd minute and Famulak was stopped on a quality save after running onto a ball over the top from Broecker in the 78^th.
 
In net, Kendall Edwards got the start and played the first half, with Parker Donahugh making the switch at the break. Both goalkeepers recorded one save apiece to help the defense record its second clean sheet of the season. Higgins paced the season-high 29-shot output with five; Recinos managed four attempts in 39 minutes off the bench.
 
Up next, the big city rivalry awaits Thursday, as the Panthers welcome Marquette for the matchup at 7 p.m. at Engelmann Stadium.