VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Milwaukee women's soccer team scored first and took a 1-0 lead late in the contest but were not able to close out the decision in a 2-1 loss to Valparaiso Sunday afternoon at Brown Field.
 
The Panthers (0-3-0) led 1-0 on a 14^th-minute goal from Lainey Higgins and held the advantage until the Beacons (2-1-0) found the equalizer in the 72^nd minute. A late goal by the home team in the 88^th minute provided the difference.
 
It was a tough result for Milwaukee, which had the offense going on the day but was not able to convert its chances. The team finished with a 23-9 advantage in total shots on the afternoon, yet Higgins' strike was the only one to find the back of the net.
 
It was close calls for the offense all afternoon. Kayla Rollins nearly had a goal off a nice free kick from Higgins in the 19^th minute and also saw a Valpo team save prevent a would-be goal from Abby Kuehnl in the 24^th minute.
 
Higgins blast from the top of the 18 went just wide off a Rollins feed in the 30^th minute as well. Rollins also came through big-time on defense to keep that 1-0 advantage at the break, heading off back-to-back shot attempts by the Beacons off a 21^st-minute corner kick that loomed large at the time.
 
Parker Donahugh came up with a great save on a VU shot from distance in the 49^th minute and it looked as though a 2-0 lead was coming, but Jenni Andjelic had back-to-back shot attempts stopped in the 57^th minute, with a defender stopping the first from crossing and the VU GK corralling the second to keep it 1-0 at the time off an initial attempt from Molly O'Regan.
 
The Beacons snuck one inside the post to make it 1-1 with 18-plus minutes left. Milwaukee had some decent chances the rest of the way, including an 80^th-minute blast from Senya Meurer that got past the keeper, but was redirected slightly enough to hit the left post and go back into play.
 
Valpo then found the eventual winner at the 87:24 mark, playing a quick free kick from midfield to start the scoring play.
 
For the game, MKE posted that 23-9 shot advantage, while also holding the 9-7 advantage in shots on goal. The Panthers also had seven of the nine corner kicks and 53 percent possession on the day. Rollins led the way with five shot attempts, with Higgins adding four.
 
Up next, the Panthers open the home portion of the 2024 season by participating in the "Challenge Cup" next week. Up first is Minnesota Thursday followed by UIC Sunday evening.