MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee women's soccer team remained unbeaten on the season, settling for a 1-1 draw Saturday against Northern Kentucky despite a season-high 27 shots on the night at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (11-0-3, 3-0-2 Horizon League) tied the game in the first half after falling behind early against the Norse (7-4-1, 4-0-1 Horizon League), but were unlucky – especially late in the second half – to not find the go-ahead goal.
 
NKU goalkeeper Emily Lohmann made a career-high 11 saves, with her defense helping her out on two occasions – clearing a header off the left post and another off the right post just minutes later.
 
"I felt like we had numerous chances – especially in the second half – it just didn't bounce our way," Milwaukee head coach Troy Fabiano said. "I thought the energy was good, I thought we settled down and played. We had to avoid their counter-attacks because their two kids up top are dangerous. I thought we did those things, but the ball just didn't bounce into the back of the net."
 
The Norse struck first, putting the Panthers behind on the scoreboard for just the second time this season. Jessica Frey picked up a turnover in back and her centering pass was finished nicely by Macy Hamblin for her sixth goal of the season in the 17^th minute.
 
Lourdes Onwuemeka nearly had the immediate answer. She dribbled down the left side before being denied with a quality stop by Lohmann just over a minute later.
 
It was Onwuemeka who equalized. Aubrey Krahn found Sydney Senn streaking down the right side to start the play. Senn sent a cross to the far post where Onwuemeka settled before sending a left-footed shot back across for her third of the season at the 29:02 mark.
 
The Panthers really dialed up the pressure in the second half. Starting in the 68^th minute, UWM reeled off 10 shots and six corner kicks in a 15-minute span, but could not find the back of the net.
 
McKaela Schmelzer's header off a corner was saved nicely and the loose ball poked ahead by Krahn was also stopped to start the span.
 
Onwuemeka was stopped at close-range next and Schmelzer again had a header off a corner headed in, but knocked off the line by the NKU defense in the 75^th minute.
 
Just a few minutes later, Krahn did the same, appearing to have a goal headed in at the right post, but cleared by someone other than the keeper once again.
 
"We created enough chances and sometimes, you're just unlucky," Fabiano said. "You keep trying to put it away, but that's all you can do is keep working. I thought they did – they never put their heads down – but the ball didn't bounce our way tonight."
 
UWM recorded six of the nine shots in the overtime periods, but 110 minutes was not enough to decide a winner as the all-time series moves to 1-1-2.
 
For the game, Milwaukee posted a convincing 27-to-16 advantage in total shots, which included a 14-5 advantage in shots on target. The squad also dominated the corner kick tally at 12-to-2.
 
Onwuemeka had a game-high eight shots (5 on goal), while Anna Smalley finished with seven and Krahn with six. In goal, Mallory Geurts was credited with four saves on the evening.
 
Up next, the schedule takes the Panthers on the road to face Oakland a week from today. Kick off against the Golden Grizzlies is set for 6 p.n. CST.
 

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