It all comes down to the final two games of the regular season for the Milwaukee men's soccer team, playing both at home as it battles for a spot in the Horizon League Tournament. The Panthers welcome Northern Kentucky Friday before making the quick turnaround into next week with an afternoon match against Detroit Mercy Tuesday.

The regular-season race has been a crazy one, as heading into the final two matches not a single team in the conference has been eliminated from the league tournament and only one (current league leader Cleveland State) has even secured its spot. The Vikings sit at the top with 15 points and then the scramble begins. Second through eighth place are separated by just four points. The Panthers start the weekend with just one loss in league play at 2-1-4, with their 10 points tied with Green Bay for fourth place (MKE holds the head-to-head tiebreaker).

Friday's affair with the Norse will get underway at 5 p.m. from Engelmann Stadium and will also serve as the program's "Senior Night". Tuesday action gets underway early at 1 p.m. against the Titans. The matchup with Detroit Mercy will be streamed live on ESPN+, with Matt Menzl on the call. Friday's contest will not have a stream available due to schedule conflicts with other home MKE teams. Both matchups will also have live statistics available for fans to follow along and all links are posted to the Milwaukee website. 

Milwaukee is very solid 8-2-1 against NKU since it joined the Horizon League and 9-2-1 all-time (also a game in 2012). Most have been close, with MKE posting identical 2-1 wins in both 2018 and 2019. The teams split the two games in 2020, with the Norse winning for the first time in the series with a 1-0 shutout during the regular season. The Panthers gained a measure of revenge in the postseason, winning the league championship by that same 1-0 score to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers earned a 4-1 road win in 2024 to improve to 3-1-1 over the past five and have gone 5-1 against the Norse at home all-time.

Milwaukee is 21-12-5 all-time against Detroit Mercy, including an impressive recent run of play snapped in a 2-0 decision in 2021. The Panthers had gone unbeaten in the prior seven meetings at 6-0-1, yet still hold a 9-4-1 mark against the Titans since 2012 following a 1-0 victory on a 55th-minute goal by Josh Kidder in 2023. The Titans have turned the tables in very recent history, winning three of the past four, including a 2-1 win in Michigan last fall. 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
NORTHERN KENTUCKY: The Norse finished last season with a 3-6-7 overall record and a 2-3-4 mark in the Horizon League, missing the postseason. Fourth-year head coach  Tom Poitras headed into the 2025 campaign ranked 10th in the preseason poll.

This fall the squad starts the week at 4-8-3 and is still alive for a spot in the Horizon League Tournament at 2-3-2 but has slowed after a 2-1-2 start. Most recent action has seen NKU fall to both Duquesne (L, 1-0 Oct. 21) and Oakland (L, 2-0 Oct. 25). The offense has 13 goals in 15 games, led by eight points from Ali Taleb (4G), with Steven Boaghe Braniste close behind with six (3G). In net, the team has been solid, allowing 18 goals in 15 games (1.20 GAA). Alex Kron has been the main starter (one of three GK's with starts). He has posted a 1.15 goals-against average (fourth in the conference), a .750 save percentage, and 45 total saves, recording two solo shutouts.

DETROIT MERCY: The Titans were coming off a 2024 campaign in which they went 3-10-4 overall, missing the league postseason with a 2-3-4 ledger. Third-year head coach Nate Kopunek saw his team selected ninth in the preseason poll. Detroit Mercy had 22 returners led by all-league third-team selection Guershom Sylvain, who led the squad in goals (7) and points (15/sixth in HL) and second-team honoree Drew Pierson, who led in assists (5) and was second in points (11).

The Titans head into the weekend at 5-9-2 overall and 2-4-1 in conference action, playing Purdue Fort Wayne at home before heading to Milwaukee to close out the regular season Tuesday afternoon. Pierson leads the offense and is among league leaders with 12 points (5G/2A) as the only player with 10+ on the roster. The team has 15 goals in 16 games, allowing 26. In goal, three players have made starts, with Colin Monroe (9 GS) the primary keeper. He has recorded a 1.69 GAA and .712 save percentage, posting four clean sheets and 37 total saves.

THE ROAD TO THE POSTSEASON
As mentioned, Milwaukee starts the week with a 2-1-4 league ledger, with its 10 points currently tied for fourth place in the Horizon League standings, five points behind league-leader Cleveland State. With two games remaining, Milwaukee is in a good spot to help itself, as both teams remaining on the schedule trail the Panthers in the standings. Northern Kentucky sits at 2-3-2 (9 points) and is in seventh place, with Detroit Mercy at 2-4-1 (8 points), which is tied for eighth. Just the top six teams will advance to play in the postseason tournament.

SENIOR SALUTE
The program will honor its senior class before the match against Northern Kentucky Oct. 31. Congratulations to the following on their careers in Black & Gold: #2 Sam Torhorst, #6 Angel Gongora, #10 Bienvenu Djunga, #11 Nico Steinweg, #13 Daiki Kumakawa, #21 Gabe Thistle, #25 Mitch Goodman, #26 Ben Grimm, and #32 Jack Bowden.

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.

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

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.

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 64-16-14 (.755) 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 story has yet to be written on the 2025 campaign, with the Panthers still an option to host or travel for posteason play depending how the final two games play out. All schedule updates will be posted to the MKE website once the campaign has concluded next Tuesday.