Just two games remain in the regular season for the Milwaukee men's soccer team, and the Horizon League standings race could not be any closer as the campaign comes to a close. Up next for the team will be a final road trip to Detroit Mercy Friday, followed by a final home match next week Tuesday. That matchup will be a special one, as not only will the team battle Green Bay for the "Chancellor's Cup", but the program will also be honoring its seniors with "Senior Day" festivities pregame.

Milwaukee will continue to lean on its stellar team defense, one that has posted back-to-back shutouts - as well as four clean sheets over the past five games - behind goalkeeper Carson Pridie. The team starts the week ranked first in the nation with its .867 save percentage, 10th with its 0.73 goals-against average, and 13th in shutout percentage at the NCAA Division I level.

The top six teams will qualify for the postseason and as the week starts, Northern Illinois leads the way with 17 points courtesy of its 5-1-2 record. From there it's as tight as it could be. Second (14 points) through ninth place (10 points) is currently separated by just four points, with the Panthers starting the week in a three-way tie for third place with their 13 points (3-1-4 ledger). Milwaukee will be facing a pair of teams this week currently lower in the standings, so a strong week of results will go a long way in determining its final seed. The top two teams receive first-round byes, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will host first-round contests.

Game time against the Titans is set for 2 p.m. CT Friday and will be streamed on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Live statistics will also be available.

The "Chancellor's Cup", which originally began as a tournament of Wisconsin state schools in the 1980's, will be on the line next week Tuesday, with the Panthers currently owning the hardware courtesy of a 2-1 victory last fall. Game time is set for 1 p.m. that day (all league contests that day get underway at the same time) and will be streamed on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with Matt Menzl on the call. Live statistics will also be available for fans to follow along and all links for both contests are available on the MKE website. Tuesday is also the Lil Panthers Reading Program Match.

Milwaukee is 21-12-6 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 five, including a 2-1 win in Michigan in 2024. The teams played to a 2-2 draw last season. Milwaukee is 11-7-2 as the road team in the matchup.

Milwaukee is 29-20-6 all-time against the Phoenix, reclaiming the Cup after two seasons without it following its 2-1 win last fall on a goal in the 73rd minute. Green Bay had earned the trophy for the first time since 2019 in 2023 with a 4-2 win. The Phoenix still holds the upper hand of late in the series. The Panthers have gone 5-3-2 the past nine, but GB holds an 8-6-4 mark over the last 18 meetings since 2008. The Panthers are 17-9-2 as the home team in the series.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS:
DETROIT MERCY: Detroit Mercy enters Friday's matchup with Milwaukee at 4-8-3 overall and 2-4-1 in Horizon League play after earning a 3-0 victory over Northern Kentucky Oct. 24. The Titans have won two of their last three league outings, including a 1-0 shutout of Oakland Oct. 17 and a 2-2 draw with current league leader Northern Illinois Oct. 7. The Titans are led by head coach Nate Kopunek, who is in his fourth season. Johnny Strickler has been the top offensive threat, leading the Titans with seven goals and 14 points. Thero Mitchell III is tied in points with five goals and four assists. The Titans have recorded consecutive shutouts, with Colin Monroe (9 GS/1.91 GAA) and Quinn Tews (6 GS/2.73 GAA) splitting time in goal in each of the last two matches.

GREEN BAY: Green Bay wrapped up this past weekend at 4-7-4 overall and 3-3-3 in Horizon League play after earning a 2-1 victory over IU Indy Oct. 24. The Phoenix dropped to 4-8-4 following a 3-0 loss to Michigan State Tuesday and will be off from league play this weekend, taking the field again when they battle the Panthers next week Tuesday.

Noah Lechelt has been a key part of the Phoenix attack, scoring five goals this season, including the game-winner on a free kick against IU Indy. Noah Radeke is another scoring threat with three goals and one assist, sitting second in scoring on the roster with seven points. Goalkeeper Drew Swancutt has been a regular presence between the posts - playing all 1,440 minutes this season. He has posted a save percentage of .635, a 1.69 goals-against average, and has made 47 total saves.

SENIOR SALUTE
The program will honor its senior class before the match against Green Bay Nov. 3. Congratulations to the following on their careers in Black & Gold: #1 Nolan Meyer, #2 Dominic Zuniga, #7 Ollie Weir, and #25 Mitch Goodman.

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 last 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.

PANTHER "PRIDIE"
Carson Pridie has been doing stellar work in goal for the Panthers of late, and now his record speaks for itself. Not only does he lead the Horizon League with his .905 save percentage, but as of the start of the week, it also led all of NCAA Division I soccer. In addition, his sparkling goals-against average of 0.55 is tops in the conference and stands fourth in the country. Lastly, his 5.18 saves per game also ranks first in the Horizon League as well as No. 10 in the NCAA.

He was recognized for his outstanding effort between the pipes against Purdue Fort Wayne Oct. 24, named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week after his career-best 10 saves helped the Panthers to a 0-0 draw against the Mastodons. His effort was not only a career-best but also marked the first outing of 10-plus saves for a Milwaukee keeper since Gijs Van Schouten recorded 12 against UIC back on September 11, 2021.

Pridie was back as the starting goalkeeper against Northern Kentucky Sept. 12 and has been on a stellar run since, starting with back-to-back shutouts of the Norse and then Bowling Green before allowing just one goal against Northern Illinois Sept. 19. His effort against BGSU was huge, making what was then a career-high eight saves to get his team in position to win it, 1-0, on a last-second goal. He continued the run in a tough 1-0 loss to Marquette before adding a 0-0 clean sheet against Cleveland State Sept. 26 and 1-0 defeat of Robert Morris Oct. 3. 

89:59 - JUST LIKE HE PLANNED IT
Praise Ogwu was in the perfect spot to play the late hero - in fact it really can't get much later - as he volleyed in a rebound of AJ Wild's header just in front of the buzzer to send Milwaukee to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Bowling Green Sept. 15 at the 89:59 mark. Head coach Kris Kelderman hasn't seen this kind of late-game drama since his first season on the sidelines. In fact, his first contest as the MKE head coach was a 3-2 defeat as the horn sounded against Marquette back in 2012. Just two games later, the favor was returned as Pol Narbona sent the Panthers to a last-second 3-2 victory over IU Indy at the gun. 

If you are a fan of late MKE goals, Cody Banks scored a memorable game-winner against Green Bay in 2011 with just seven seconds left in double-overtime, making it one of the latest goals to end a match (109:53) since 2000. Only a handful have even come close: MKE and Green Bay are familiar with the late heroics, with their game in 2010 decided in the 109th minute in the win by the Phoenix. Looking back, Milwaukee lost a 2-1 game to Michigan in October of 2005 in the 109th minute.

The other contenders? Vermont edged the Panthers, 2-1, with just 21 seconds left in double-OT in 2010 and Bowling Green defeated Milwaukee, 2-1, back in the 2001 season with just 15 seconds left in double-overtime as well.

ZUNIGA: ASSIST WHEN ABLE
Dominic Zuniga has played a major role on offense this season, currently tied for third in the Horizon League with his six assists. His three assists against Chicago State Aug. 24 went down as a tie for the fifth-most in a game in school history, with the most recent player to record the triple-helper coming via Raul Medina in August of 2024. The school record is five in a single game.
5: Bobby Lish on 10/27/2002 ... Zach Papanikolaou on 9/29/73
4: Ryan Seymour on 9/3/2000 ... Milan Stojsavljevic on 10/7/77
3: Zuniga's effort (17th 3-assist game in program history)

LEAGUE LIFTOFF
The Panthers are 24-15-4 all-time in league openers in seasons in which they have been affiliated with a conference following a tough loss to Wright State this year. Head coach Kris Kelderman is 5-8-3 in his 16 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. 

HARD TO TOP DEBUT
Freshman Filip Dostanic earned the starting job in goal in the preseason and did not disappoint in his debut, blanking Southern Indiana Aug. 20, while making five saves. In doing so, he became just the fifth freshman in the past 25 years to start the season opener in goal for the Panthers (freshman Freddy Lorenzen was the last in 2017, a 1-0 win over Western Illinois). 

A NEW LOOK FOR 2026
The Panthers will have a new look on offense this season, as the top two scorers from last season, as well as five of the top seven, have either graduated or transferred to different programs. Dominic Zuniga (11 points on 3G/5A) and Jack Bretzmann (10 points on 5G) will be the top returning scorers for Milwaukee in 2026 after a campaign in which the team did lead the Horizon League in goals scored with 32 (second was 27).

All told, the MKE offense will return just 42 of the 98 total points from 2025. From a starting perspective, the Panthers do return five regular starters, including Jack Wagner (started all 19 games in 2025) and Mitch Goodman (played all 19; started 16) along the back line. Pavle Ivkovic, a freshman last fall, made 13 starts in his 15 appearances once he made his way into the lineup on defense. They are joined in experience by Dominic Zuniga and Jack Bretzmann, as both are returners who made 11 starts among their 16 games played apiece.

Points: returners accounted for 42 of the 98 points (42.9 percent)
Goals: 12 of 32 goals (37.5 percent)
Assists: 18 of 34 assists (52.9 percent)
Starts: returning players accounted for 87 starts last season (41.6 percent).
Minutes: returning players accounted for 9,123 of 18,766 minutes played (48.6 percent).
One of the biggest opportunities will be in net, where 2025 starter Nic Diana played all but 90:00 last season (out of 1710:00/94.7 percent).

FOR OPENERS
Milwaukee is now 27-19-8 all-time in season openers following a 0-0 draw against Southern Indiana to open 2026. Head coach Kris Kelderman now has 16 season openers on his resume at the NCAA Division I collegiate level, going 10-3-3. 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.

A FAMILY AFFAIR
The Panthers have a lot of family connections on the 2026 roster, as the team not only has two pairs of brothers in action, but also a father-son and brother-sister connection. Felix Huwiler, a junior and two-year member of the Panthers, will be joined by brother, Katahdin. The younger Huwiler capped his time at Marquette University High School with a senior season in which he was named Wisconsin Soccer Coaches First-Team All-State and Greater Metro First-Team All-Conference for the second consecutive campaign. Joining the Panthers via the transfer route are brothers AJ and Allen Wild. AJ, a sophomore, arrives in Milwaukee following two seasons at Davidson where he appeared in 15 games in 2025, making nine starts. His brother Allen joins the MKE roster after beginning his collegiate career at Gardner-Webb, redshirting the 2025 campaign.

There are two other storylines, starting with Cole Luedke, who comes the Panthers following a very successful campaign at nearby Wisconsin Lutheran College. As a freshman in 2024, he was named Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Honorable Mention. His father, Joe, enjoyed a successful career on the pitch for the Black & Gold from 1996 to 1999. Lastly, freshman Timo Schroeder has an older sister, Svava, who is a current sophomore on the MKE women's tennis team.

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 seven different countries or territories. In addition to 18 players from the United States, the roster will have representation from the following:

New Zealand: Phoenix Coursey (Christchurch)
Germany: Paul Denz (Laufenburg), Timo Schroeder (Berlin)
Japan: Roy Nozawa (Tokyo)
Scotland: Ollie Weir (Falkirk)
Serbia: Pavle Ivkovic (Niš), Filip Dostanic (Belgrade)
Spain: Hur Irizar Lekue (Bilbao), Alvaro Perez Eugenio (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria)
United Kingdom: Daniel Gill (Newport, Wales, U.K.)

REGULAR SEASON SHINE
The Panthers' unbeaten 2-0-3 start to Horizon League play last season marked their best undefeated opening run in conference play since a 4-0-1 five-match run to begin the 2007 campaign. The final ledger of 3-1-5 marked the fewest losses in a league schedule since a 6-1-0 mark back in 2004.

FIT TO BE TIED
Since the NCAA removed overtime from the regular season, the draw has been a much more common result for the Panthers. Prior to the start of the 2022 campaign (the year of the rule change), the program record for ties in a season was five, set on a pair of occasions with the most recent coming in 2008. Starting in 2022, Milwaukee reset the record with eight that fall, which approached what was then the NCAA record of nine. The team played games to even four times in 2023 before five in Fall of 2024. Last season, the Panthers again drew level with the program mark of eight. 

HOME SWEET HOME
Last fall, Milwaukee extended its unbeaten streak in home games to 13 consecutive contests (7-0-6) dating back to the 2024 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.

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 66-17-15 (.750) 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 62-33-30 (.611) at home in Kris Kelderman's 14-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 five of the eight 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 $12.99 a month (or $129.99 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 will find out their postseason fate over the course of the next week, with the top six teams in the conference advancing to the playoffs. Once the field has been determined, that information will be posted to the Milwaukee website with game times, dates, and locations.