FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Natalie Zodrow provided the only goal of the afternoon in a dominant performance by the Milwaukee women's soccer team, providing the difference in a 1-0 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne Thursday from Hefner Soccer Complex.
The Panthers (11-4-2, 9-0-0 Horizon League) owned the day against the Mastodons (1-12-3, 0-7-2 Horizon League), finishing the match with advantage of 25-1 in total shots and 15-0 in corner kicks while maintaining 63 percent of possession on the afternoon.
"I was getting a little concerned that today that old soccer-game bug was going to get us … 25 shots to 1, 15 corners to 0, but we finally found a goal late in the game to win 1-0," head coach
Kevin Boyd said.
A career-high 10 saves from PFW goalkeeper Sam Christle – as well as an additional team save that prevented an MKE goal – kept the scoreboard much closer than the game on the field appeared.
"Obviously, winning on the road is hard," Boyd said. "Purdue Fort Wayne played extremely tough and difficult and made everything hard for us, which is why with all those shots we weren't getting easy ones. I thought their goalkeeper was outstanding."
Milwaukee remains perfect in league play this fall at 9-0 with the decision. In addition, the beat goes on for the longest active streak of its kind in the nation, as the program is now unbeaten in 48 consecutive (40-0-8) regular-season Horizon League matches, dating back to 2022.
The Panthers also remain perfect all-time against today's opponent, moving to 7-0-1 in the series, outscoring them 18-1 in those contests.
"Looking at us, I love what we brought," Boyd said. "We brought our focus: midday game, away, on the road, different surface. We still did what we do, which is grinding, working hard, everybody in it together. We did very well."
The Dons packed the box and did well defensively for long stretches. The game-winning goal came on a corner kick and didn't happen until the 73
rd minute. Zodrow was in the right place at the right time to find the back of the net for her third consecutive outing. It started with a corner kick from
Sadbh Griffin, who placed the ball right on the near post. The GK got a hand on it, but Zodrow ended up having the ball go right off her back and into the goal while fighting for a header.
"Nat just got her third goal in the last three games, so she has become a pretty dangerous weapon on sets, which we love," Boyd said. "Our sets have become more and more dangerous, and you'd think with 15 you'd score more. But, again, their keeper was quite good, and they did a good job blocking."
That made it 1-0 at the 72:17 mark, which was all the Milwaukee defense needed.
Maya Allen was also credited with an assist on the play.
The Mastodons lone shot of the afternoon came in the 14
th minute, a harmless shot rifled well over the bar when it was 0-0 early.
Numerous spectacular PFW saves kept it scoreless, starting with a diving save in the 26
th minute off the foot of
Maya Wilson, found open in the box off a pass from
Ashlyn Derosier.
Christle made a highlight-reel stop on an attempt from
Ashlyn Skinner-Barrett in the 31
st, somehow coming up with the sprawling stop after Skinner-Barrett tried to slot it home with one touch off a tremendous find from Wilson. Christle also made a great save on a turn-and-shoot attempt off the foot of
Denise Camarena in the 63
rd minute.
The offense really turned up the heat shortly after, recording three shots in the 68
th minute alone, including a blast off Zodrow's foot that buzzed just over the crossbar.
Emily Petring was also turned away on a rocketed blast from the right wing in the 70
th, sending it to the only place Christle was able to make a play on it. The game-winner then came two minutes later.
Skinner-Barrett (6 shots) and Zodrow (5 shots) led the offensive barrage, with Petring contributing four shots of her own. In net,
Lauren Nidey did all she needed despite not recording a save to post her seventh shutout of the season.
With the win, the Panthers will have a chance to scoreboard watch later tonight to see if their sixth consecutive Horizon League regular-season championship will be theirs yet today. Green Bay (6-1-1) was the only other team that can catch Milwaukee down the stretch. If the Phoenix draw or lose tonight against Cleveland State (kickoff set for 5 p.m. CT), the title and the No. 1 seed for the postseason will be theirs.
"That is a nice three points for us, a nice win on the road," Boyd said. "Now our focus is on getting a sweep and winning at Cleveland State on Sunday."
Up next, the road trip continues on Sunday, as the team heads to play those same Vikings, set for a noon CT start that afternoon.
