ST. PAUL, Minn. (Sept. 4, 2011) – Jamie Forbes made 11 saves and Sarah Hagen scored the game’s only goal as the No. 22 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women’s soccer team defeated Minnesota, 1-0, Sunday in the final game of the Minnesota Gold Classic Sunday at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.

 

“It was an exciting game, sometimes a little too exciting for my liking,” Milwaukee head coach Michael Moynihan said. “I thought we had some dangerous chances that we just didn’t convert, as did they, but I thought Jamie Forbes was up to the task when she was called on. She played fantastic. She was a real force back there with a great presence and made some big stops.”

 

The Panthers (6-0), who are ranked as high as No. 20 in the Soccer America poll, finishes the weekend 2-0, but takes second in the tournament to Georgia on the third tiebreaker—goals scored (4-3). The host Golden Gophers (2-3) took third and Iowa State is fourth.

 

Hagen was named the tournament’s Offensive MVP, while Forbes and Makenzie Gillaspie were also selected to the all-tournament team.

 

Forbes came up big in goal, making 11 saves to preserve her fourth shutout of the season and third in as many games. The defense in front of her was also critical, as they made up a team save and continually stifled the Minnesota attack.

 

The game’s lone goal came in the 76th minute as the Panthers earned a free kick just outside the box on the near side of the field. A yellow card was issued on the play. Keara Thompson stepped up to the set piece and lofted a short cross into the box. Hagen muscled a header past the defense and into the goal for her seventh goal of the season.

 

Minnesota won the midfield battle for much of the game, earning a lopsided advantage in shots, 23-10, including 12 on goals. Each time a Gopher broke through for a legitimate chance, Forbes or one of her defenders was there to turn them away.

 

On the other side of the ball, the Panther offense generated a number of chances. Most notably, aside from the decisive tally, Kelly Lewers hit the underside of the cross bar in the first half. Then, in the second half, Helen Steinhauser lofted a shot off the crossbar. Lewers followed with a shot, but collided with the Minnesota keeper in the middle of the box as her follow-up went wide.

 

With the win, Milwaukee equals its school-record start at 6-0. And, for the second-straight weekend, UWM finishes 2-0 in tournament play, but settles for second place on tiebreakers.

 

The Panthers return home for a pivotal week of rivalry games. They host No. 11 Marquette Wednesday at Engelmann Stadium in a game that will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel as the NSCAA Game of the Week. Next Sunday, Milwaukee hosts Wisconsin.