MILWAUKEE - Up early after goals by McKaela Schmelzer and Anna Smalley, the Milwaukee women's soccer team was unable to thwart off a Northern Kentucky comeback in falling, 3-2, in the Horizon League Tournament Championship Saturday evening at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (13-5-2) spent the majority of the second half in search of that elusive third goal against the Norse (13-6-1), but could not find the back of the net despite a huge 22-to-14 advantage in shots in the contest.
 
"I am proud of the effort put out by our team tonight," head coach Troy Fabiano said. "We fought hard to get the lead and even when NKU tied the game 2-2, we created enough chances to get another. Losing at this point of the season is always disappointing, but I look the entire season and I am proud of what we accomplished."
 
It was all Milwaukee early, getting on the board on yet another goal off a corner kick, taking the 1-0 advantage at the 11:39 mark when Schmelzer tallied off a well-placed ball from Callie O'Donnell.
 
Just over five minutes later, UWM struck again. O'Donnell sent service into the box and, after a missed clearance, Smalley finished nicely left-footed at the 16:42 mark to get the crowd on its feet again and give Milwaukee the 2-0 advantage.
 
Goalkeeper Mallory Geurts pulled off some impressive saves in the 41st minute, punching a chip up and off the crossbar before following that up with a point-blank save to keep the Norse off the scoreboard at the time.
 
Horizon League Player of the Year Macy Hamblin took some wind out of the sails with a goal in the 43^rd minute, however, popping a flicked header into the air before volleying home her ninth goal of the year to get NKU back within one before halftime. Milwaukee nearly pushed its lead back to two just before the halftime horn, only to see Lourdes Onwuemeka zip one just over the bar in the final seconds.
 
The second half was filled with close calls for the Panthers. Cassidy Blanchard had her header on a corner kick saved nicely in the 54^th minute and NKU goalkeeper Emily Lohmann was up to the task again in the 60^th, diving at the post to stop Smalley from netting another off a nice feed from Ashley Burkhardt.
 
The Norse broke through again in the 66^th to equalize, with Jessica Frey back-heeling in a ball that bounced right in front off the post following a long free kick.
 
Aubrey Krahn then skimmed the right post on a pair of blasts, just missing in the 70th and again in the 75th. Geurts also made a great save on a long free kick in the 86th minute, punching a long free kick just over.
 
For the game, the Panthers finished with the 22-to-14 shot advantage, including the 10-9 edge in shots on goal. The teams each had five corner kicks, and nearly split the foul calls (13-12 NKU) evenly as well.
 
O'Donnell, Smalley, Krahn and Onwuemeka all finished tied for the team lead with three shots. O'Donnell had a pair of assists to get to 10 in the season, while Smalley's goal pushed her final team-leading point total to 26 (11G/4A).
 
Geurts finished with five saves, while Lohmann recorded eight.
 
O'Donnell, Smalley and Schmelzer all earned spots on the Horizon League All-Tournament Team that was announced postgame.
 
That concludes the 2016 season at 13-5-2 for the Panthers, which included back-to-back regular-season titles. The game was the last for the team's six seniors: #2 Callie O'Donnell, #4 Abbey Hoerchner, #7 Ashley Burkhardt, #13 Tatum Smith, #17 Kelly Manski and #32 Maria Stephans.

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