Panthers Drop Heartbreaker To Hurricanes

September 3, 2013

MILWAUKEE - Betsy Middleton pushed home the game-winning goal with just over five minutes remaining in double overtime to give Miami a 2-1 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team Sunday night at Engelmann Field.

"The team played well," Milwaukee head coach Greg Henschel said. "We made a few small errors, we missed a ball here and there but we are moving in a very, very positive direction and I look forward to seeing our match against DePaul next Friday."

The Panthers (0-4-0) came out of the gates strong, generating quite a few quality chances early. It looked like Milwaukee would get on the board first as Krissy Dorreplayed Kelly Lewers into the box where she was one-on-one with the keeper in the 18th minute but her shot went just wide.

Instead, it was Miami (3-0-0) that found the net first. Blake Stockton launched a ball that soared through the air and found a streaking Tara Schwitter. Schwitter took one touch and just got the ball past an oncomingPaige Lincicum to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead just before the half.

Milwaukee responded strong though, coming out of the locker room and testing the UM goalie time and time again. Hannah Kaul's header in the 47th minute dinged off the cross bar to keep UWM at bay.

The Panther attack finally broke through in the 63rd minute when Dorre played a through ball to Kelsey Holbert. The junior midfield sprinted up the middle of the field and just got a foot on the ball, but her shot was saved by the oncoming Hurricane keeper. Morgan LaPlant was in the right place though, collecting the rebound and calmly slotting the rebound into the net for her first of the season to draw the game level.

"I think anyone that has a good soccer eye knows the Morgan's goal paled in comparison to the work she put in," Henschel said. "It was an important goal but it was all the other stuff that she has done between last season and this season to put herself in a position to impact a match like that and her impact was definitely a significant one. I think it's something the rest of our group is taking note of and we're excited about a lot of players on our team and the progress we've made in these first four games."

Milwaukee kept its high-pressure play up, outshooting the Hurricanes 11-7 in the second half. Dorre nearly netted a walk-off win in the waning seconds of the match but her arching shot went just high before the buzzer.

After a scoreless first overtime, the high-paced game had a feeling it was meant for a draw, but with just a few minutes remaining, Jasmine Paterson's cross from the right flank was deflected by the Panther defense but right to Middleton who pushed home the winning from just inside the box to give Miami the win in a thriller.

UWM returns to action Friday when the team travels to Chicago to take on DePaul. Kick off is set for 4 p.m. 

Trending Videos
IMG Academy Top 200/150 Rankings
see full ranking:
Boys Girls