Sitting in a four-way tie for second place, the Milwaukee men's soccer team enters the final stretch of the Horizon League race in position to make some noise due to its current unbeaten (2-0-3) ledger to this point. This week will feature just one match, a road game at Wright State on the weekend.

The contest against the Raiders Saturday is set for a 12 p.m. CT kickoff and can be seen on ESPN+. The matchup will also have live statistics available for fans to follow along and all links are posted to the Milwaukee website. 

Milwaukee is 19-13-9 all-time against Wright State, which includes a long stretch of dominance in the early 2000's that witnessed a 12-game winning streak. The Raiders have turned the tables a bit of late, but much of the recent history has been tightly contested - the series is a dead-even 1-1-4 the past six dating back to 2019, including a 3-3 draw in Milwaukee last fall.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
WRIGHT STATE: The Raiders finished last season with a 7-9-2 overall record and a 3-5-1 mark in Horizon League play. WSU welcomed 11 newcomers to this season's roster, including four freshman. The roster includes four freshmen, 14 sophomores, three juniors, six, seniors, and one graduate student. It also features a large international representation with players coming from 11 countries across five continents. Third-year head coach Alex Van der Sluijs led the Raiders to a three-win improvement in 2024 and had two players earn 2024 All-League recognition: Cole Werthmuller was named Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year and selected to the All-League First Team, while Brock Pickett earned a spot on the All-League Third Team. The team was pegged for seventh in the preseason poll.

This fall the squad starts the week at 1-10-1 and is now 1-4 in conference action after a most recent setback to Northern Kentucky (L, 2-1 Oct. 11) marking a third consecutive loss overall. The offense has 11 goals in 12 games, led by eight points from Henry Hutchinson. In net, three players have made starts, led by eight from Alessandro Malterer, who has posted a 2.00 GAA, .673 save percentage, and 33 total saves.

QUICK START
The Panthers are off to an unbeaten 2-0-3 start to Horizon League play, their best undefeated opening run in conference play since a 4-0-1 five-match run to begin the 2007 campaign. 

PLAYING THE LONG GAME
MKE goalkeeper Nic Diana got in on the offensive action in the contest at Wisconsin Oct. 7, picking up an assist on a goal after his perfectly-placed long kick fell behind the defense, setting up Jack Bretzmann to find the back of the net. It's a recent trend for the Panthers, who saw Daniel Ibarra pick up two assists last fall from his keeper spot. Ibarra's helpers were the first GK assists for the program since Liam Anderson against Wright State in October of 2013.

THE ROAD TO THE POSTSEASON
Milwaukee starts the week with a 2-0-3 league ledger, with its nine points currently tied in a three-team logjam for second place in the Horizon League standings, yet just two points behind league-leader Purdue Fort Wayne. With four games remaining, Milwaukee is in a good spot to help itself, as Robert Morris (the teams meet Oct. 25) is also in that tie for second. Just the top six teams will advance to play in the postseason tournament.

CHANCELLOR'S CUP DRAMA
The battle for the Chancellor's Cup has seen some thrillers over the years, but if it feels like the drama and intensity has been higher lately, you would be correct. It was there again this fall, seeing Fernando Pirry net a brilliant goal in the 73rd minute to break a 1-1 tie and hand the team the trophy. In 2023, Raul Medina netted a goal in the 83rd to help MKE find a 1-1 decision and maintain possession of the Cup. Jake Kelderman scored the only goal just 91 seconds into the 1-0 victory in fall of 2021 and David Cox was the hero in 2020's version, netting the game-winner with 36 seconds left in regulation. 

The Chancellor's Cup, which originally began as a tournament of Wisconsin state schools in the 1980's, continues to be given to the winner in the annual Milwaukee/Green Bay game. As an extra storyline, Kris Kelderman spent the 2011 season as the head coach at Green Bay.

It happened again in 2018, with Sean Holmes' golden goal coming in the 99th minute. The year prior, MKE tied the game with just eight seconds remaining in regulation on a goal by Jonathan Stadler to force overtime before falling. And again in 2016, when Milwaukee reclaimed the Cup with a thrilling 1-0 victory Oct. 22 on a goal by Magnus Flaatedal. Seven of the past 14 possible occasions these two teams have now played, the game has gone into overtime (5 of 7 into double-overtime), with five of the seven ending in victories for one team or the other. Twelve years ago it was an own goal that won it for Green Bay, snapping Milwaukee's 10-game unbeaten streak (9-0-1) to start the 2013 season. The 2012 version ended in a draw but the 2011 edition provided one of the most memorable finishes to a game in program history, with Cody Banks netting the winner at the 109:53 mark.

RANKINGS RUNDOWN
When they battled No. 16 Virginia Oct. 1 in a fierce 3-2 loss, the Panthers were taking on a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time since playing then-No. 23 Marquette to a 1-1 draw in September of 2023. Since the United Soccer Coaches took over running the national poll in 1996, the team has gone 8-27-5 in games against ranked opponents, with the best upset coming against then-No. 12 Marquette, 2-1, in 2013.

The list below is all of the games against nationally-ranked opponents that have come under head coach Kris Kelderman (3-9-2 record).
10/1/2025: L, 3-2 at #16 Virginia
9/19/2023: T, 1-1 vs. #23 Marquette
8/28/2022: L, 4-0 at #12 Duke
4/17/2021 (COVID Season): W, 1-0 at #22 Northern Kentucky
11/8/2018: T, 1-1 2OT vs. #18 Wright State (L, 4-3 on PKs)
11/2/2018: L, 4-0 at #21 Wright State
8/30/2015: L, 4-0 at #6 Creighton
9/17/2014: L, 2-0 at #17 Marquette
9/14/2014: L, 3-0 at #19 American
9/12/2014: L, 2-0 at #22 George Mason
$ 11/21/2013: L, 1-0 at #19 Wisconsin
11/17/2013: W, 2-0 vs. #23 UIC
8/30/2013: W, 2-1 vs. #12 Marquette
9/16/2012: L, 2-0 at #18 Northwestern
9/9/2012: L, 3-1 at #25 Xavier

HEADING BACK TO THE OL' STOMPING GROUNDS
Kris Kelderman got the chance to return to his alma mater against the Cavaliers where he was a four-year letterwinner at Virginia from 1987 to 1990, helping the team to the 1989 NCAA title. He is still second in school history with a four-assist game (against Charleston in 1989) and still sits 10th in school history with 22 career assists. His 88 career games played was most in program history when he graduated (now tied for eighth) and he led the team with 30 points and 10 goals as a junior. He was named All-ACC and went on to be selected in the inaugural Major League Soccer Draft by the D.C. United.

MIGHT AS WELL BE A BRICK WALL
The month of September has been very good to the Milwaukee defense, allowing just six goals in the seven games since the calendar flipped. Most recently has been even better, posting three consecutive shutouts against Cleveland State Sept. 13, St. Thomas Sept. 16, and IU Indy Sept. 20. That marks a first for the program in some time - the most recent similar stretch was three straight at the end of October of 2017 (T, 0-0 vs. Wisconsin Oct. 24/W, 3-0 vs. IU Indy Oct. 28/W, 2-0 vs. Oakland Nov. 3). The next better span was four consecutive to close out the 2013 campaign (W, 1-0 vs. Northern Illinois Oct. 30/W, 5-0 vs. Cleveland State Nov. 9/W, 2-0 vs. Oakland Nov. 16/W, 2-0 vs. UIC Nov. 17). 

Leading the charge has been Nic Diana, who was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 22 following his back-to-back clean sheets against the Tommies and Jaguars. His 1.11 goals-against average ranks close to the top overall, including a league-best 0.33 GAA through three conference games. Diana did see his scoreless streak end at of 383:14 against Marquette.

HOME SWEET HOME
Milwaukee extended its unbeaten streak in home games to 13 consecutive contests (7-0-6) dating back to last season with its 0-0 draw against Cleveland State Sept. 13. That eclipsed the longest such streak at Engelmann Stadium since the team won 11 straight from the end of the 2004 campaign (won final 10) into 2005 (victory in home opener) before the streak was snapped. The 13 consecutive drew even with the school record set of 13 (13-0-0) established in 2002 before coming to a conclusion in the 3-2 loss to Marquette Sept. 23.

GOALS FOR DAYS
After thorough research, here are some amazing numbers regarding Milwaukee's 9-1 victory over Chicago State Sept. 9 and Fernando Pirry tying the program record with four goals. Pirry became the eleventh Panther to score four goals in a game – the first since Aaron Horvat in 2013 – but also became the only one to do so in just one half of a game. The closest anyone else had come was Mike Rowe, who scored four in a 7-3 win at Roosevelt on Oct. 24, 1984. Rowe scored three in the first half that day and added his fourth at the 46:17 mark of the second half. Pirry's four goals are also the most in a game in the NCAA this season, done three other times before him. The accomplishment helped him earn Horizon League Player of the Week honors Sept. 15.
The nine goals were also the most for an MKE offense since a 9-0 defeat of Bradley back in September of 1990. The Panthers also broke the school record with 12 assists in a single game, eclipsing the former mark of 11 set against Lewis (see game below). Milwaukee also had a 6-0 lead against the Cougars at halftime, the biggest single-half outburst since scoring six in the second half its 8-0 victory over Cleveland State back in November of 2002.
In fact, just three other games all-time saw more total goals scored for the Black & Gold.
1. 14-0 against Purdue Calumet on Sept. 9, 1979
2. 12-0 against DePaul on Sept. 16, 1987
3. 10-0 against Lewis on Sept. 12, 1979

LEAGUE LIFTOFF
The Panthers are 24-14-4 all-time in league openers in seasons in which they have been affiliated with a conference following a draw with Cleveland State this year. Head coach Kris Kelderman is 5-7-3 in his 15 seasons, with the team knocking off UIC to open 2021 by a final score of 2-1 and also beating Purdue Fort Wayne, 3-2, in 2020. 

THE BATTLE FOR THE MILWAUKEE CUP
Milwaukee and Marquette play for the "Milwaukee Cup", one of the longest-standing rivalries in all of college soccer. In the summer of 2011, the College Soccer News website published a list called "The Fourteen Greatest Rivalries in College Soccer." Weighing in at No. 10 on their list was the Milwaukee Cup. The Panthers certainly have the upper hand all-time, now holding a 31-13-7 record in the series and did maintain possession of the Cup from 2017 until fall of 2022. Over the past nine meetings, the Panthers are 3-3-4.

Looking back, the 2012 matchup remains one for the memory books, as the Golden Eagles, trailing the Panthers 2-1 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the contest, pulled off a stunning finish to grab possession of the Cup. Following a goalkeeper miscue, Marquette found the equalizer at the 81:53 mark and then won the contest at the buzzer as the winning goal crossed the line at the 89:59 mark before the horn sounded. The 2013 edition was just as exciting, with the Panthers scoring just 60 seconds into the affair en route to a 2-1 victory over a Marquette squad that was ranked No. 12 nationally at the time.

FOR OPENERS
Milwaukee is now 27-19-7 all-time in season openers following a 2-2 draw against Northern Illinois to open 2025. Head coach Kris Kelderman now has 15 season openers on his resume at the NCAA Division I collegiate level, going 10-3-2. In addition to the wins over Purdue Fort Wayne (2020), WIU (2017-2019), Eastern Illinois (2016), Evansville (2015), DePaul (2014) and a nationally-ranked Marquette squad (2013), his Green Bay squad topped SIU Edwardsville, 1-0, in 2011. In season openers at home, the Panthers now sport a record of 9-7-3 all-time.

EXPERIENCE; WITH A NEW LOOK
The Panthers will have a new look on offense this season, as the top two scorers from last season, as well as three of the top four, have either graduated or transferred to different programs. Bienvenu Djunga will be the top returning scorer for Milwaukee in 2025 after a campaign in which he recorded nine points on three goals and three assists.

All told, the MKE offense will return just 31 of the 94 total points from 2024. From a starting perspective, the Panthers do return six regular starters, including a core of the back line of defense that helped the team allow just 1.16 goals per game in 2024 - a number that ranked first in the Horizon League. Veteran presence Daiki Kumakawa is back, a starter in all 18 of his appearances last fall. He is joined in experience by Jack Wagner (started all 19 games last season as a freshman), Ryan Berghauer (16 starts in 18 games), Mitch Goodman (14 starts in 16 games), and Breon Jarvis (12 starts in 19 games) as returners with at least 12 starts in 2024.

Points: returners accounted for 31 of the 94 points (32.9 percent)
Goals: 10 of 30 goals (33.3 percent)
Assists: 11 of 34 assists (32.4 percent)
Starts: returning players accounted for 105 starts last season (50.2 percent).
Minutes: returning players accounted for 10,017 of 18,829 minutes played (53.2 percent).
The biggest opportunity will be in net, where long-time starter Daniel Ibarra played all but 99:27 last season (out of 1710:00/94.2 percent).

STELLAR ON "D"
The team defense played a large role for the Panthers last season, with Daniel Ibarra finishing second with his 1.062 goal-against average, part of the team's final line of 1.158 - topping the Horizon League. The defense allowed zero or one goal in 14 of its 19 games (73.7 percent), with a pair of freshmen making their names known along the backline. Jack Wagner played all 1,710 minutes of the season last fall, with classmate Ryan Berghauer (1,403 minutes played) making 16 starts in his 18 games played.


HOME-COOKIN'
The Panthers embraced playing at the friendly confines of Engelmann Stadium last season, concluding the campaign with an unbeaten 6-0-3 mark in home games. In recent years, the best ledger the team has posted in home matches was the 6-1-1 showing (.813 winning percentage) accomplished by the 2019 squad. The last time the team went the full campaign without a home blemish was way back in 2002 when the Panthers went a perfect - and impressive - 13-0 at home that fall.

INTERNATIONAL FLAIR
The Panthers continue to add quite a mix to the active roster as players with international roots continue to join the program. This fall, the team will have student-athletes from eight different countries or territories. In addition to 18 players from the United States, the roster will have representation from the following:

Columbia: Miguel Rivera Cardona(Santago De Cali)
France: Bienvenu Djunga (Asnières-sur-Seine)
Germany: Paul Denz (Laufenburg)
Germany: Nico Steinweg (Dortmund)
Japan: Daiki Kumakawa (Ryugasaki)
Scotland: Jack Bowden (Aberdeen)
Scotland: Ollie Weir (Falkirk)
Serbia: Pavle Ivkovic (Niš, Serbia)
Spain: Fernando Pirry (Córdoba)
United Kingdom: Daniel Gill (Newport, Wales, U.K.)

NEW GUY BUT NOT THE NEW GUY
Joining the Panthers as a transfer in net is Nic Diana. While new to the Panther, Diana is no stranger to the Horizon League. As the starting goalkeeper for Purdue Fort Wayne last season, Diana ended up as the top goalie in the conference, leading the way with his 0.92 goals-against average and six shutouts. He enjoyed a spectacular September, posting five consecutive clean sheets, earning Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honors along the way.

GETTING TO TWO
Recently on offense, once the team has found a second goal, the Panthers continue to be very tough to beat. The squad went 7-1-0 in 2021, 6-1-0 in 2020, and 10-0-1 in 2019 when scoring two or more goals. That brings the six-plus year tally to 64-15-14 (.769) when finding the back of the net at least twice in a match. 

NOW THIS IS HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
When it comes to home field advantage, the Panthers have historically ranked right up there with the best in the business. From 2001 through 2006, Milwaukee turned Engelmann Stadium into a place visiting teams did not want to see on their schedule, going 49-8-2 in that time. After a few down seasons by MKE standards, the magic is getting brought back - the Panthers have compiled a record of 60-31-25 (.625) at home in Kris Kelderman's 13-plus years as the head coach.

CATCH THEM IN ACTION
Milwaukee men's soccer will be available for the viewing pleasure of MKE fans this season, as six of the nine home games are scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+ (subject to change due to weather and location). The Horizon League and ESPN have an agreement that includes ESPN hosting the league's digital network on the ESPN+ platform. ESPN+, which will host the Horizon League women's soccer, men's soccer and volleyball championships this season, offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $11.99 a month (or $119.99 per year) and cancel at any time. Launched in April of 2018, ESPN+ is an integrated part of a completely redesigned ESPN App.

ON TAP
The Panthers remain on the road for one game next week, traveling to battle Robert Morris Saturday. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT against the Colonials.