MILWAUKEE – Kayla Rollins came through with the only goal of the match in the 62^nd minute and Parker Donahugh posted her third consecutive shutout as the Milwaukee women's soccer team defeated Oakland by a final score of 1-0 Thursday night at Engelmann Stadium.
 
"Compliments to Oakland – I thought they defended exceptionally well, I thought their goalkeeper was good on the night, I thought their defense made it really difficult for us and it was hard to get through them," head coach Kevin Boyd said. "I mean, 20 shots to seven, 12 corners to zero, and we get a goal off a set piece. I really thought Oakland played well and made it difficult."
 
Despite heavy advantages on the offensive side of the ball, the Panthers (4-6-1, 3-0 Horizon League) found the back of the net just enough to top the Golden Grizzlies (2-8-2, 1-2 Horizon League) and extend their unbeaten streak against the visitors to 17 straight (13-0-4) in the series.
 
"That's one of those tough games, that's one of those quintessential soccer games … where you outshoot your opponent, have the ball and all of the chances and often times, that could be lopsided the wrong way," Boyd said. "I mean we have all seen that, so I was glad we got the goal."
 
Sitting with a shot advantage of 9-3 at the break which included all nine of the first half corner kicks, Milwaukee found itself in a 0-0 battle until the 62^nd minute. Lola Wojcik created the scoring opportunity after getting fouled near the left wing of the penalty area. Rollins took the 19-yard free kick and buried it for her fifth goal of the season, making it 1-0 at the 61:20 mark.
 
The MKE offense finished with 20 total shots but was denied a second goal on numerous good looks, as OU's Julia Zangerl made five saves on the evening, while a team save kept another from finding the scoring column.
 
"All in all, I liked what we did," Boyd said. "We just need to be cleaner in our finishing and what we are doing, but I liked what we were trying to do. We are happy – we got our three points, we got the win, we got the shutout which is something we have been focusing on."
 
Wojcik had the first one just 7:16 in, running on to a long ball from the back from Anna Champine. She created space and took aim in from about 10 yards out, with only a last-second deflection off a defender sending the attempt just wide.
 
Rollins looked to open the scoring in the ninth minute, only to see her header off corner kick from Elizabeth Reece punched over the top of the crossbar at the final moment.

Ashlyn Skinner-Barrett was next, getting a quality header on another Reece corner. The ball was headed to the open near post, but an Oakland defender got a head on the ball and knocked it wide as well.
 
Following Rollins first goal, she had a good chance at a second shortly after. Champine played to Lainey Higgins, who's quick touch gave Rollins a chance from the right wing. A solid shot produced another good save and it remained 1-0 in the 69^th minute.
 
Jenni Andjelic tried to join the scoring column late, coming close twice. Her volley off a corner kick hit the left post in the 82^nd minute and her turn-and-fire attempt from about 25 yards out was saved nicely in the 83^rd.
 
For the game, the MKE offense finished with advantages of 20-7 in shots, 7-4 in shots on goal, and 57 percent of possession. The home side also wrapped up the night with all 12 of the corner kicks during the contest. Andjelic and Rollins each finished with a game-high five shot attempts, with Andjelic's total a career-high for her. Donahugh finished with four saves in the clean sheet.
 
Up next, the team remains at home to welcome Detroit Mercy Sunday, set for a kickoff of 1 p.m. The Titans currently sit second in the Horizon League standings with seven points and a record of 2-0-1 after tying Green Bay Thursday evening.