CHICAGO, Ill. – Elaina LaMacchia recorded a career-high 10 saves and the Milwaukee women's soccer team opened up a close game with a pair of second-half goals in claiming a 3-0 shutout over UIC Sunday afternoon at Flames Field.
 
The Panthers (11-1, 4-0 Horizon League) took care of business against UIC (6-5-1, 2-2 Horizon League), a team that was one of the closest in the Horizon League standings when the day started.
 
Milwaukee did it on both sides of the field, posting its fourth shutout in the last five games on defense. On offense, the team scored three goals against a defense that was leading the conference and had allowed just six total goals through 11 contests coming into the day.
 
Rachel Phillpotts provided the opener, heading in a corner kick from Gaby Schwartz in the 34^th minute to net what turned out to be the game-winning goal. The assist for Schwartz was her league-leading seventh of the fall.
 
After getting outshot, 12-to-5, in the first half, the Panthers turned the tables and opened things up in the second half, starting in the 58^th minute.
 
Rafferty Kugler's takeaway started the play, sending the ball to the middle of the field. Morgan Koerber one-touched it across the field to Schwartz, who launched on goal from distance, finding the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season.
 
LaMacchia's 10-save performance included a tough save on a ball that skipped in on her in the 71^st minute and a top-shelf jump to preserve the shutout at the 79:58 mark. The shutout is her second in a row, fourth of the season and 12^th of her career.
 
MKE then closed out the scoring in the 68^th minute, with Chandler McDaniel finishing nicely on a cross to the middle from Natalie Auble, chipping over the keeper from the top of the 18.
 
The teams spent the majority of the first half trading possession, with no clear-cut scoring opportunities either way until Phillpotts' goal.
 
The first five UIC shots on target were harmless, with LaMacchia not having too much difficulty with any attempt until a header in the 33^rd minute and a diving stop to protect the one-goal advantage in the 39^th minute.
 
The first MKE shot on goal didn't come until the 26^th minute, when Auble put one solidly in frame in the 26^th minute, but the keeper was there for an easy save.
 
Milwaukee kept up the pressure immediately following the opening tally, nearly adding to it in the 37^th minute. Haley Johnson almost doubled-up the lead, volleying service on goal, but a diving save kept it at 1-0 at the time.
 
For the game, Milwaukee was outshot for just the third time this season, with UIC finishing with a 17-to-12 advantage, including 10-to-7 in shots on goal. It also had five of the nine corner kicks in the match. Four different players finished with a team-high two shots for the Panthers.
 
Up next, the Panthers play one of their final road contests of the regular season this fall, heading to Ohio to battle Wright State Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CST.

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