MILWAUKEE – Down a goal late, Kayla Rollins came through with her Horizon League-leading sixth goal of the season to help the Milwaukee women's soccer team secure a 1-1 draw against Detroit Mercy Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (4-6-2, 3-0-1 Horizon League) put up 20 more shots on the day against the Titans (4-6-2, 2-0-2 Horizon League) but were stymied by the weather and some solid saves by the opposition – and a little help from the crossbar – in picking up the draw. The result helped the team extend its unbeaten streak in conference play to 23 (17-0-6) but did end a stretch of 17 consecutive victories over today's opponent – a streak that dated back to 2007.
 
"We've had 40 shots in the past two games and have scored two goals," head coach Kevin Boyd said. "We have had 23 or 24 corners and no goals off that. This is on us, it's our quality and finishing. Credit to Detroit, they played hard and had their plan the whole time and I think it worked to a large degree and got them a point. We just have to be better. Our quality wasn't good enough, especially in the attacking third. I just didn't think our soccer was good enough. I also know that this is our third weekend in a row of two games and there is fatigue setting in, so fortunately we get a break coming up."
 
The teams spent the entire match fighting winds that were consistently around 15 miles per hour and were gusting to near 30.
 
"There's no question the wind was a factor," Boyd said. "We had it the first half and we didn't find a goal to take advantage of it. Then we went against it in the second half, which means you have to defend deeper and the ball is going to roll longer. In the first half, we had it with us so it was easier to keep them pinned in their end, we just didn't take advantage of it."
 
It was Rollins that nearly gave the MKE offense an early lead, taking a pass from Lainey Higgins and streaking towards the goal from the right flank. Her shot was headed to the far post before getting pushed just wide at the 4:54 mark.
 
It was the 39^th minute when the Panthers just missed out on a sensational goal. Elizabeth Reece started the play and passed to Molly O'Regan. O'Regan took a touch and set up Senya Meurer from about 25 yards out. Her blast appeared headed in before clanging off the crossbar and coming back into play.
 
Scoreless at the break despite a heavy share of possession, 10 shots, and seven corner kicks, Milwaukee looked to break through after intermission. Jenni Andjelic gave it a go in the 54^th, turning on a great feed from Higgins and lacing a shot on frame. Marisa Silver came up with a huge save for the Titans, keeping it 0-0 at the time.
 
Detroit Mercy was the first to get on the scoreboard, turning a corner kick into a goal at the 74:07 mark.
 
Down, 1-0, despite dominating the afternoon, the offense stayed calm and found the equalizer just four minutes later. It was O'Regan and Higgins again, with Higgins setting up Rollins on a perfect through ball for a 1-v-1 run to goal. Rollins did the rest, making it a new game at the 78:07 mark.
 
Back-and-forth the rest of the match, neither team was able to create any dangerous chances before the final horn sounded.
 
For the game, MKE picked up advantages of 20-12 in shots, but was able to only put five on goal (7-5 UDM). The team did have 12 of the 15 corner kicks, as well as 62 percent of possession on the afternoon. Rollins and Lola Wojcik each led the charge with four shots apiece.
 
In goal, Parker Donahugh was credited with five saves in the deadlock. She did see her scoreless streak come to an end at 416:18, dating back to Sept. 15.
 
Up next, the team gets a well-deserved break in play, returning to the field October 10 to host Youngstown State in a game scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.