MILWAUKEE – Nic Diana made four saves – including an impressive stop of a first-half penalty kick – to help power the Milwaukee men's soccer team to a 0-0 draw with Cleveland State Saturday evening at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (1-2-3, 0-0-1 Horizon League) had the better of the play and chances against the Vikings (0-2-3, 0-0-1 Horizon League) but could not find a goal in the contest, yet extended their unbeaten streak at home to 13 consecutive matches (7-0-6) to tie the program record set in 2002.
 
"We had chances and I felt we deserved three points out of this," head coach Kris Kelderman said. "I mean, I am satisfied with the tie – we are still unbeaten at home and it's a conference game so you get one point – but I thought we had some chances where we should be walking away with at least one goal. The team defense has been very good. We just need someone to step up and score a goal or two for us."
 
Diana came up huge in the 29^th minute – stopping the best CSU scoring attempt of the night with a diving save of the penalty.
 
"Nic did his job," Kelderman said. "He stepped up and did his job and I think that gives everyone some energy when that happens. He came up big for us."
 
Milwaukee allowed just nine total shots overall, with Diana opening the night with a big diving save off a free kick rocket in the fifth minute.
 
"It was really good defense, and it starts with the guys pressing up front, the midfield, and then the goalkeeper," Kelderman said. "I thought our chances were much better than theirs – they didn't have many chances, if any, besides the penalty kick they had – and that comes down to good team defense. I feel really good about that."
 
Bienvenu Djunga led the way for the MKE offense, recording six of the 16 shots overall. He nearly beat the halftime horn with a great attempt, sending a quality shot through traffic in the 45^th minute only to see the CSU keeper make a last-second dive at the post to push it wide.
 
Ryan Polling also made a nice save of a header from Jack Wagner in the 48^th minute, coming off a combination of passes from Miguel Rivera Cardona and Ryan Berghauer.
 
The offense produced better chances after the break. One of the best came in the 78^th minute. A long throw-in from Breon Jarvis was headed to the front of goal by Alejandro Zuniga, with Djunga sending one just high at the time.
 
The visitors also made a quality save in the 81^st, denying Fernando Pirry a goal on a header off a Zuniga corner kick.
 
"I thought we came out and were better in the second half," Kelderman said. "I thought the first half was kind of a pretty 'blah' game for both teams. It wasn't the most exciting game to watch. As the game started, both teams were trying to feel the other out a little bit and I think that carried on for 45 minutes. I thought we were better in the second half, more energy, more willingness to go forward. We created more chances, and I thought our possession got better as well."
 
In the end, MKE posted the advantage of 16-9 in total shots, while both teams had four shots on goal apiece. The draw went deep, as the squads were also even in corner kicks at 4-4, fouls at 15-15, and yellow cards at 1-1 on a night where the program honored its alumni with a turnout that topped 50 people from all eras of the program that dates back to 1973.
 
"We had a great turnout from our alumni, which was super-exciting," Kelderman said. "Would have been nice to get a win for those guys, but overall, a pretty good evening."
 
Up next, the Panthers hit the road, beginning with a non-league matchup at St. Thomas Tuesday. Game time against the Tommies is set for 4 p.m.