MILWAUKEE – Alejandro Martinez scored a pair of goals and assisted the eventual game-winner as the Milwaukee men's soccer team defeated Bradley, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Stadium.
 
"Three goals on the day is a good thing," head coach Kris Kelderman said. "We had some really good chances to add to that and could have made the game a lot easier on ourselves. I thought we got off to a good start and had a really good first half. As we talked about at halftime, the game is only going to get harder. They were going to come out at the start of the second with more energy – they had to, they were two goals down."
 
The Panthers (1-0-1) took a 2-0 lead behind the brace from Martinez and were in control from start to finish, with a goal from the Braves (1-1-0) in the final minute providing a closer result on the scoreboard.
 
"I didn't like how we came out in the second half, we lost some momentum and I think we looked more tired than we actually were," Kelderman said. "We found a second wind as the half went on and (Bienvenu) Djunga picked up a third goal just by hard work and determination. The goal we gave up at the very end, the guys thought the game was over and you cannot do that. Overall, you always have to be pleased when you win. Still undefeated at home, which is a goal of ours … so, onward."
 
Martinez just missed a goal in the 20^th minute before taking advantage a minute later, finishing a crossing pass from Mesfin Roda for the first goal of the day at the 20:08 mark.
 
Just four minutes later he was at it again, redirecting a pass from Angel Gongora inside the near post to double the MKE advantage at the 24:02 mark. Raul Medina picked up secondary assists on each goal.
 
The biggest play in the first half then came from goalkeeper Daniel Ibarra, stopping a Bradley penalty kick in the 34^th minute that kept momentum with the Panthers.
 
The Braves did find a goal just after the second half started, making it 2-1 after Jared Sinnaeve rifled in a ball that was bouncing around the box.
 
The Panthers held tight and regained the two-goal advantage in the 65^th minute, again with Medina and Martinez involved. Martinez sent a ball into a crowd in the box to Medina, who sprung Bienvenu Djunga with a lead pass to goal. Djunga did the rest, scoring his first of the season to make it 3-1 at the 64:39 mark.
 
"We lost momentum and that goal picked us up," Kelderman said. "We needed something or someone to give us a lift. Djunga's hard work to finish the goal inspired the guys and got us back to playing the way we did in the first half so that was very encouraging."
 
The defense was in control the rest of the way, holding out until BU found the fortunate late goal with just 22 seconds remaining to close out the scoring on the day.
 
Medina's three assists are the most in a game since the 2020 COVID season and tied for third-most in a game in program history (record is five). It was also the second time he has done it in his career (also 3/24/20).
 
Martinez recorded the most points in a game for a Panther since David Cox had the same 2G/1A line against Robert Morris September 23 of last year.
 
For the day, Milwaukee gained the slim 19-18 advantage in shots, with BU the 9-8 edge in shots on goal. The Panthers also had five of the seven corner kicks, with each team whistled for 14 fouls on the afternoon. Martinez led the offense with five shots, with Djunga adding four.
 
In net, Ibarra had a busy day, adding six other stops – including a couple of impressive ones – to the PK save to finish with seven overall.
 
Up next, the Panthers remain at home, welcoming St. Thomas to campus September 2, set for a 5 p.m. kickoff.