CLEVELAND, Ohio – Three goals in a span of under 13 minutes – including the eventual game-winner from
Ashlyn Skinner-Barrett just 23 seconds into the second half – helped send the Milwaukee women's soccer team to a 4-0 shutout victory over Cleveland State Sunday afternoon from Krenzler Field.
The Panthers (12-4-2, 10-0-0 Horizon League) got things going just after the break against the Vikings (3-10-4, 3-3-4 Horizon League) and didn't stop, scoring early to take control and piling on from there.
"What a second half by us," head coach
Kevin Boyd said. "It was a close first half. I felt we were a little more dominant, but Cleveland State was making it difficult. And they play a nice brand of soccer. But second half, we scored 23 seconds in, got another one five and a half minutes later to go up 2-0 just six minutes into the second half. That's saying something."
Milwaukee remains perfect in league play this fall at 10-0 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 49 consecutive (41-0-8) regular-season Horizon League matches, dating back to 2022.
"And then we kept our foot on the gas, kept going, and got a third, got a fourth," Boyd said. "We got everybody in other than maybe one person, so we were hoping to get our goalkeeper in. Didn't manage to get that, but really good performance by our team and what an explosive second half. Which is saying something when you're on the road and it's really your fourth half of the weekend. And for us to be that dominant in the second half on the road, I am really impressed with the team."
The Panthers also remain unbeaten against today's opponent, moving to 27-0-1 all-time, including a perfect 14-0 on the road. The victory was also the 13
th consecutive in the head-to-head series, outscoring the Vikes 44-4 in that stretch.
"We did what we wanted, which is get a sweep on the road," Boyd said. "We remain undefeated in the conference on the year at 10-0, and now we're getting to come home on a long bus ride and get ready for a little recovery before we start planning for our next game."
The offense nearly got on the board in the 43
rd minute, but a solid save from a shot by
Emily Petring was turned away and the rebound attempt was also saved.
It didn't take long for the second-half fireworks.
Maya Wilson won a ball and found Petring near midfield. She led Skinner-Barrett with a well-placed pass down the wing and Skinner-Barrett did the rest, burying her fifth of the season in the back of the net just 23 seconds into the period.
In the 51
st minute, a flurry of headers in front of the CSU box – including one by Petring off the crossbar – finished up with Wilson slotting home the second goal of the day at the 50:50 mark.
About seven minutes later, the Panthers took advantage of a set piece, with
Natalie Zodrow smashing a perfect header off a free kick from
Ashlyn Derosier to make it 3-0 at the 58:16 mark, giving her goals in four consecutive matches.
Kennedy Floyd then closed it out late, making a deep run to goal after picking up possession near midfield for her first as a Panther, putting a bow on the scoring at 4-0 at the 88:52 mark.
The defense did the rest, allowing just five total shots and only two on goal in the shutout victory.
Lauren Nidey made a huge save early – making a full-out dive to her right to keep the game at 0-0 in the 11
th minute. She finished with a pair of saves in recording her eighth clean sheet of the campaign.
For the day, Milwaukee ended up with advantage of 19-5 in total shots, 8-2 in shots on goal, and 5-2 in corner kicks. The team also had 46 percent of the possession on the day, with Petring (5 shots) and Wilson (4 shots) leading the team in shot attempts.
The final game of the regular season awaits next, as the team returns home for a showdown with Green Bay Oct. 31. Game time against the Phoenix is set for 1 p.m.
