MILWAUKEE - Lourdes Onwuemeka volleyed the game-winning goal into the back of the net in the 102^nd minute to send the Milwaukee women's soccer team to a thrilling 2-1 victory in double-overtime over Wright State Thursday evening at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (16-0-3) topped the Raiders (12-8-0) to extend their claim as the nation's final unbeaten team and advanced to Saturday's Horizon League Tournament Championship.
 
"I want thank all the fans that came out to create a great environment for our team," Milwaukee head coach Troy Fabiano said. "We will definitely need that energy again on Saturday."

Milwaukee will take on IUPUI, which upset Northern Kentucky by a score of 3-2 earlier in the day, with the winner advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Down, 1-0, after WSU took a lead in the 18^th minute, UWM tied the contest just before intermission and finally won it on its 35^th shot of the contest.
 
"I thought the team was focused and showed determination and resolve to come back after being down a goal," Fabiano said. "I thought our work rate tonight was high and they did a lot of the little things we have talked about this season. We look forward to hosting the championship game on Saturday night and hope to have another big crowd!"
 
Just when it felt like the spot in the finals may have been headed to penalty kicks, Onwuemeka saved the day. She calmly volleyed a cross from the end line into the net, skimming the bottom of the cross bar for her sixth goal of the season at the 101:01 mark, setting off the celebration on the field.
 
The goal was set up perfectly on an endline serve from McKaela Schmelzer, who was sprung open down the right sideline on a pass from Aubrey Krahn.
 
The goal made the winners out of the Panthers, who dominated the score sheet on the night. Milwaukee recorded advantages of 35-to-8 in shots, 16-to-5 in shots on goal and 12-to-1 in corner kicks.
 
Milwaukee took six of the eight shots in the extra periods, with Schmelzer nearly ending things in the 99^th minute. Her shot from distance was pushed wide at the last second by WSU keeper Maddie Jewel, one of her impressive 14 saves on the evening.
 
Cassidy Blanchard almost had the hero role as well, but her header on a corner kick in the 97^th went just over the crossbar.
 
It nearly ended in the final second of the first overtime as well, but Anna Smalley saw her attempt go just wide left in the waning seconds.
 
The Panthers came out the agressors, nearly netting a goal in the opening minute. Jen Eberhardy took aim on the left post from distance, seeing her blast get pushed just wide. That was one of five shots taken by UWM in the first five minutes.
 
But, WSU struck first, getting an impressive goal by Erin Graefen in the 18^th minute to put UWM behind, 1-0.
 
The Panthers, who trailed in any game all season for less than 15 minutes this fall, had to play from behind nearly the entire first half.
 
That all changed in the 44^th minute, when Mackenzie Schill knocked in a corner kick with her left foot for her seventh goal of the season at the 43:28 mark to make it a new game.
 
Milwaukee kept its foot on the gas, posting a 13-3 advantage in shots in the first half and followed that up with another 14-4 advantage in the second half. The contest was filled with near-misses.
 
Onwuemeka saw her close-range blast saved nicely in the 53^rd minute. Two minutes later, Schmelzer's header on a corner kick was saved, with the rebound sent wide left of the post.
 
It was a busy night for Schmelzer, who finished with a career-high eight shots in addition to assists on both goals. Smalley contributed seven shots to the 35 total as well.
 
The championship is next. If the team claims the Horizon League Tournament title, it will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time in program history. Game time against the Jaguars is set for 6 p.m. at Engelmann Stadium. When these two teams met in the regular season, it was UWM who posted a convincing 6-0 victory back on October 18.
 

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