DETROIT, Mich. – Alejandro Martinez scored his seventh goal of the season but it was not enough as the Milwaukee men's soccer team dropped a tough 2-1 result to Detroit Mercy at Titan Field Saturday afternoon.
 
The Panthers (5-3-4, 1-3-1 Horizon League) found themselves down a pair to the Titans (2-8-2, 1-2-2 Horizon League) in the 59^th minute before responding. Martinez's goal cut the deficit in half but the equalizer was not to be found the rest of the afternoon, made more challenging by a second yellow card that turned into a red card for the MKE offense in the 72^nd minute that had the team playing a man down the rest of the way.
 
It was a challenging afternoon for the offenses both ways, as the game featured a total of just 13 combined shots, with Milwaukee recording five.
 
The first came from Raul Medina in the seventh minute and the only other one before intermission came in the 14^th. What looked like a potential goal was stopped brilliantly by the UDM keeper, stopping a tough shot by Martinez after he was off to the races for a breakaway attempt after a well-placed through ball from Daiki Kumakawa.
 
The Titans then took advantage of their defense next, forcing a turnover on a Panther possession on the far touchline before using a counterattack to create a breakaway of their own and take the 1-0 lead at the 26:04 mark.
 
Down by the same margin at the break, Milwaukee again had the ball deep during an offensive threat yet, after the ball went pinballing around, a counterattack opportunity was created and a header goal put the home side ahead 2-0 at the 58:04 mark.
 
The Panthers dug in and battled back, finding a goal in the 63^rd minute to make it a game. Medina took possession at midfield and went charging downfield. He played a diagonal ball to Martinez who, two touches later, rifled a perfectly-placed shot to the far post for his seventh of the season at the 62:54 mark.
 
The play that resulted in the eventual red card occurred just 10 minutes later and took most of the steam out of the comeback effort. One of the best chances for the MKE offense the rest of the way was a free kick from about 20 yards out in the 83^rd minute, but the attempt was sent high.
 
For the game, the Titans eked out advantages of 8-to-5 in shots and 5-to-3 in shots on goal, while earning four of the five corner kicks. The matchup featured 33 fouls (18-15 UDM) and saw 10 cards get handed out. Martinez led the way with two of the five shots, while Daniel Ibarra was credited with three saves in goal.
 
Up next, the Panthers will be off for a week, next returning to the pitch Oct. 19 when they host Cleveland State in a match set to start at 7 p.m.