MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee women's soccer team turned a 1-0 halftime advantage into a convincing 3-0 win over UIC Sunday evening at Engelmann Stadium, using a strong second-half effort to pick up the victory in the final game of the "Challenge Cup" on the weekend.
 
"I thought it was really tight in the first half; I thought it was very even," head coach Kevin Boyd said. "We put one away on a PK and I thought we got in pretty well. Three times we got into half-space and found players for some good chances, but they had some really good chances as well. We gave up way too many corners, that was an issue. But we defended them well."
 
The Panthers (1-4) took an early lead on a Kristina Karlof penalty kick and then opened things up in the second half against the Flames (1-4) with goals from Molly O'Regan and Kayla Rollins.
 
"Second half, I thought we were the better team the whole time," Boyd said. "Then we got that second goal and we got another PK off another breakaway. At least some of the things we are working on in training are showing up. I am really excited we got the shutout to be honest. The backline defenses needed a little love and nothing has gone their way yet, so for them to get the shutout in really important for them."
 
Back-and-forth at the start, it was Karlof who broke free on a thru ball from Lainey Higgins before being tripped up in the box. After the whistle was blown, Karlof buried the penalty kick and it was 1-0 at the 7:12 mark.
 
The offense produced good opportunities all match and nearly added numerous goals in the match. One of those came in the 18^th minute when Higgins found Molly O'Regan streaking on goal – with only a brilliant save by the UIC goalkeeper keeping the lead from being doubled-up.
 
Lilly Hanke got her first collegiate start in goal and responded with a six-save shutout, becoming the first MKE keeper since 2009 to record a clean sheet in her first college start. She got some help in the 32^nd minute, seeing Savannah Sievert clear a ball off the line that was set to sneak in off a far-post UIC header.
 
"I think Savannah brought a stabilizing force," Boyd said. "Her communication is so good and I think that helped a bit. Just as a whole, we were better. We were more organized, what we were trying to do made more sense. And we were obviously significantly better in the attack and that's been a huge piece as well."
 
Milwaukee came out of the second half firing, seeing Elizabeth Reece nearly make it 2-0 in the first minute of the period. Her header off nice service from Ellie Rebmann missed the near post by inches.
 
It was O'Regan that eventually found the back of the net next, chipping the goalkeeper on a tough angle off a pass from Karlof, bounding off the far post and in for her first of the season to make it 2-0 at the 52:56 mark.
 
The close calls continued. Lola Wojcik rifled a give-and-go opportunity from Jenni Andjelic just wide in the 56^th minute and Kayla Rollins saw her breakaway opportunity after getting sprung on a thru ball from Higgins trickle wide in the 65^th minute. It was Senya Meurer a few minutes later, blasting a 20-yard volley off the crossbar in the 74^th minute.
 
Rollins did break through for her first of the season a bit later, again with a Milwaukee PK. But she earned the right to take the spot kick, getting fouled in the box after a great pass from Zoey Pagels put her on the doorstep. The goal at the 80:53 mark closed out the scoring in the 3-0 decision.
 
For the game, Milwaukee finished with advantages of 15-13 in overall shots as well as the 8-7 edge in shots on goal. Karlof led the way with three shot attempts, with Wojcik, Rebmann, Rollins, and O'Regan all adding a pair.
 
Higgins, Reece and Meurer were named to the Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team.
 
Up next, the team remains at home to welcome Wisconsin. That in-state rivalry game is set for Thursday with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
 
2024 Marquette Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team
 
MVP: Khyah Harper, Minnesota
 
Sophia Boman, Minnesota
Sophia Romine, Minnesota
Elizabeth Overberg, Minnesota
Mia Haertle, Marquette
Emily Fix, Marquette
Chloe Olson, Marquette
Elizabeth Reece, Milwaukee
Lainey Higgins, Milwaukee
Senya Meurer, Milwaukee
Yulexi Diaz, UIC