MILWAUKEE - Freshmen Petter Ingebrigtsen and Andy Chmielewski scored goals to give the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team a second-half lead, but could not hold on in settling for a 2-2 tie against Northern Illinois University Tuesday night at Engelmann Stadium.

The Panthers (3-4-1) struck first in a wild second-half against the Huskies (2-3-3) that featured all four goals and 22 combined shots. Despite a 5-2 advantage in chances in the overtime sessions, Milwaukee ended up retaining possession of the LeWang Trophy with the deadlock.

"It's disappointing and almost feels like a loss, unfortunately," Panther head coach Kris Kelderman said. "The same mistakes are hurting us, game-in and game-out now and it's getting old. But we have to keep plugging away. I feel bad for the guys, they put in a real good effort. We had our chances as the game went on, but it just didn't happen tonight."

Following a relatively even first overtime period, UWM had several chances to win it in the final 10 minutes. The last one nearly provided a thrilling conclusion, but Ingebrigtsen's close-range volley went over the crossbar with just 17 seconds remaining.

"We're giving up goals and we have to get better," Kelderman said. "At the same time, we had a couple of opportunities offensively to really put the game out of hand and we didn't do that."

Senior Laurie Bell gave it a go in the 103rd minute, but his header was saved at the line by the NIU keeper. It was Ingebrigtsen again in the waning seconds of the first overtime period, only to see his final attempt go high just seven seconds in front of the horn. He also made a mad dash through the box 20 seconds prior to that, but Andrew Glaeser came off his line to make an impressive stop.

A scoreless game until the second half, Ingebrigtsen netted his third goal of the season at the 53:41 mark. Senior Luke Goodnetter sent a corner kick into the box, finding the head of fellow senior Richard Johnson. His attempt went clanging off the crossbar to the feet of Ingebrigtsen, who calmly finished for the 1-0 advantage.

Chmielewski netted his first collegiate goal with a hustle play seven minutes later. He beat a defender to a through ball into the box in the 61st minute, sending the ball back to the far post for a 2-0 advantage at the 60:06 mark.

"I think both goals were very nice," Kelderman said. "We have almost all freshmen on the attack and those guys are doing a nice job. We created a lot of chances and that is promising and we feel excited about that. But we let ourselves down again and walked away with a tie."

Just when it seemed like Milwaukee was in control of the match, NIU responded with the comeback. Firing 14 shots in the second period alone, the Huskies cut the deficit in half on a goal by Bertrand Gaschot in the 70th minute.

Less than four minutes later, Isaac Kannah knotted it up with a fortunate strike. NIU played a long ball into the box well off target. The UWM keeper ran out off his line to chase it down, but Kannah beat him to it and chipped a shot up-and-over, finding the back of the net at the 73:42 mark.

The Panthers had the more dangerous chances throughout, finishing inches away on several opportunities to open the game up.

Bell had a header go just high in the 88th minute and also hit the post in the 69th on a try that was past the NIU keeper.

Freshman Reid Stevenson chipped one just over the bar in the 48th minute and Ingebrigtsen connected on a back-heel volley that flew the top in the 34th as well.

Sophomore Liam Anderson was credited with six saves on the night, including a pair of game-savers in the 78th minute as well as early on in the 34th minute when a turnover gave the Huskies a two-on-one situation.

On the night, the final shot advantage went to NIU by a count of 21-19 in shots, including 8-7 in shots on target. It was also whistled for 22 of the 42 fouls in the match and earned the slight 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Ingebrigtsen finished with a game-high seven shot attempts.

Up next, it's the start of Horizon League play, with Milwaukee welcoming Cleveland State to Engelmann Stadium Saturday night. Game time is set for a 7 p.m. start.

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