Madison, Wis. - Seven Panthers made their collegiate debuts as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team dropped its season-opening match, 5-0, to a high-flying Tennessee on a very hot and humid Friday afternoon at McClimmon Soccer Complex.

The Panthers fired off 10 shots, nine in the second half but were unable to find the back of the net in the first match of the 2014 season.

"In the second half, we showed a lot more potential of what we can be and looked a lot more relaxed. We were a little uptight in the first half and we didn't look anything like ourselves," Milwaukee head coach Greg Henschel said. "I was really surprised to see such a veteran group in that starting line up look as unsettled as they did in those first 30 minutes. It's the first game; that stuff can happen and as the match went on we started to look more like ourselves.

"The scoreline is disappointing, but I was encouraged by what we showed in the second half and I think we'll take a good step forward on Sunday."

After a difficult first half, UWM created numerous scoring chances after the break. Kelly Lewers twice had headers go just wide of the net early on in the second half.

In the 55th minute, Vienna Behnke found the ball at her feet on the UT end line and rocketed a shot toward the far post but a great diving save by Jamie Simmons kept UWM off the board.

Kelly Manski also had a great look midway through the second stanza only to see her dipping shot from just outside the box curl just over the crossbar.

Tennessee's Hannah Wilkinson scored a pair of goals to open the game. Her first of the game came in the eighth minute after an unlucky bounce for UWM. A Panther defender stopped the initial attack but lost her footing and it was an easy finish for the New Zealand international. 

Tennessee then struck again in the 32nd minute with Wilkinson soaring over the defense for a header in the box, nodding the ball far post to make it 2-0.

An own goal just before the half and a header by Amy Neal just after the break gave UT a 4-0 advantage. The Vols capped off the scoring with a nice finish by DeGooyer in the 70th minute.

Milwaukee returns to action Sunday with an 11:30 a.m. kick off with Oregon again at McClimmon Soccer Complex in Madison.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Men's NCAA Tournament First Round Recap

TeamRank Presented By TeamSnap - Boys

Midwest High School Roundup - Nov.