MILWAUKEE – Fernando Pirry scored in the 73^rd minute and the Milwaukee men's soccer team held on down the stretch to take back the "Chancellor's Cup" with a 2-1 victory over Green Bay Saturday evening at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (3-5-6, 2-0-3 Horizon League) put together a gritty effort against the Phoenix (4-6-1, 1-3-1 Horizon League) – a team that was ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll this fall – while also staying in the hunt in the Horizon League regular-season title race by virtue of a fifth-straight conference match unbeaten so far this campaign.
 
"It was a big game for a couple of reasons," head coach Kris Kelderman said. "Obviously, for the three points in the Horizon League, it's massive for us. It's a home game and was a good opportunity for us to get three points and the guys did well to do that. It was a cup game and an in-state rival. Really pleased with the guy's effort from start to finish – it was a team effort. I said to the guys, 'we got two out of three cups this season … not bad'."
 
In a game that was deadlocked at 1-1 at the break, the eventual match-winner came at the 72:36 mark, when Pirry, on a throw-in sequence from Breon Jarvis, took possession and ripped a shot past the keeper for his fifth of the campaign.
 
From there it was bend-but-don't-break, as the Panthers defended well down the stretch to secure the win. Goalkeeper Nic Diana made the final of his three recorded saves in the closing minute, grabbing the final GB shot with around 40 seconds remaining in regulation.
 
"The team that is down is going to push the issue and push more people forward, so you have to really buckle down and defend first," Kelderman said. "The guys have been doing a good job of that throughout the season, and it carried on tonight."
 
It was the MKE offense that came up with solid chances in the search for goal No. 2, starting with a shot from Bienvenu Djunga that went off the post and out of bounds, after playing the ball in from Jarvis in the 56^th minute.
 
It was Djunga again, creating a chance for Jack Bretzmann in the 62^nd minute, yet a solid save by the Phoenix keeper pushed it wide.
 
Djunga again kept up the pressure and was nearly rewarded in the 64th minute. He and Bretzmann played give-and-go on a counterattack and only a diving save was able to keep the ball from the back of the net.
 
The teams took a bit to connect from the start, with a free kick that was barely pushed wide off the foot of Dominic Zuniga, the first shot on goal for either side in the 27^th minute.
 
The Panthers drew first blood in the 35:50 mark, when Angel Gongora converted a penalty kick to give Milwaukee a 1–0 lead. The PK opportunity came after Djunga was knocked down in the box.
 
Diana made an impressive save in the 40^th minute, which appeared to help MKE get to half up 1-0. But Green Bay had other thoughts, taking advantage of a turnover in back to equalize just 94 seconds before intermission.
 
"Nic is a great goalkeeper, but in addition he brings a really good presence to the group," Kelderman said. "He's got a confidence to him which put the team at ease in front of him and came up huge."
 
For the game, the visitors left with edges of 15-13 in total shots and 7-4 in corner kicks, but Milwaukee grabbed the 6-4 lead in shots on target. Djunga led the way with three shots.
 
Up next, the Panthers hit the road for one game next week, traveling to battle Wright State Saturday. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CT against the Raiders.