Milwaukee Drops Double-Overtime Thriller
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Milwaukee men's soccer team overcome a two-goal deficit in the second half against Evansville but could not find a third tally before falling in double-overtime, 3-2, Saturday night at McCutchan Stadium.
The Panthers (1-1-1) trailed the Purple Aces (3-0-0) by a 2-0 count with under 25 minutes remaining in regulation. The team would get on the board on a penalty kick from Magnus Flaatedal and make it a new game just six minutes later on a strike by Evan Conway.
"We had the better of chances to start the game, so we could have had the lead in the first half," Milwaukee head coach Kris Kelderman said. "But, we didn't and next thing you know we find ourselves down 2-0. But the guys battled back, scored two goals and we hit the post a couple of times. They fought hard. I feel like we deserved at least a point out of that game, so you can't help but feel bad for the team."
UWM had some decent chances to pull off the improbable comeback, but instead were handed the heartbreaking loss when Ian McGrath had his first shot saved, but found a way to put the rebound into the net at the 103:55 mark for the golden goal.
"Again, I feel really bad for the guys," Kelderman said. "We went down 2-0, and I thought both of their goals were really nice goals – there was not a lot you could do about either one. They took their chances very well. Evansville is a very good team – a well-balanced group with good team pace – they can play well."
Milwaukee dominated the early going and were still carrying possession well after the half-hour mark of the first. Conway put up a trio of shots in a matter of minutes, forcing tough saves in the 31st and 35th minutes in addition to one that flew just wide in the 32nd.
Evansville had few dangerous chances in the first half, but turned the game on a header goal in the 38th minute by McGrath, a 1-0 lead that would hold up at intermission despite UWM's doubling-up of the shot total at 8-4.
The Purple Aces barely had the ball on their side of midfield in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but a goal on a half-turn and volley snuck past the keeper and made it 2-0 at the 61:11 mark.
The Panthers took advantage of the PK to get back into the game and Conway followed up a block and a nice pass from Moon to slot one past the line and to the far post for his first goal of the season at the 72:29 mark.
Moon had a night of close calls. Just after the Conway goal, he found himself with the open net on a tough angle following an EU miscue but could not convert. He also had quality shot attempts saved in the closing seconds of regulation and the first extra session.
Vuk Latinovich forced EU keeper Matthew Keller into his best save of the night in the 55th minute, bending a free kick to the upper corner where it was knocked away at the final second.
Latinovich had a 28-yard free kick go off the cross bar in the 69th minute as well. Defensively, UWM goalkeeper Freddy Lorenzen made a brilliant save in the 86th minute to keep it tied.
Milwaukee ended the night with a 17-to-14 edge in shots, earning seven of the 12 corner kicks. Conway and Moon each had a team-high four shots; Lorenzen was credited with three saves total.
The Panthers will wrap up play in the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic Monday, taking on Bradley at 12 p.m.
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