MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee men's soccer team cut a two-goal halftime deficit in half in the 54^th minute on a goal by Evan Conway, but could not complete the comeback in falling to Oakland University by a final score of 2-1 at Engelmann Stadium on Saturday evening.
 
The Panthers (6-5-2, 3-2-1 Horizon League) came out flat and were also unable to take advantage of a Golden Grizzlies (5-7-0, 4-2-0 Horizon League) red card in the 63^rd minute, despite a huge 12-to-5 advantage in shots in the second half alone. The loss snaps the team's unbeaten streak at five (4-0-1).
 
"I told the team at halftime that I thought we came out way too comfortable," Milwaukee head coach Kris Kelderman said. "We've been on a good seven-game stretch and I think the young group let it affect their comfort level, which is too bad. Oakland was clearly the better team the first half. They jumped on two chances and did a nice job finishing both. Plain and simple."
 
Oakland came out firing, recording five shots in the first 10 minutes, while taking advantage of an early opportunity to take the air out of the contest. A Milwaukee handball created a free kick directly on the top of the 18-yard box. Nebojsa Popovic sent a blast on frame, but UWM goalkeeper Sam Glass was up to the task with a brilliant save. The ball rebounded, however, right to Chase Jabbori who was in the right place at the right time for the putback and the 1-0 advantage at the 9:58 mark.
 
The Grizzlies doubled their advantage on another Jabbori goal in the 26^th minute and led by that scoreline at the half. Milwaukee pushed the tempo in the second and came through on yet another goal by Conway. He headed in his sixth of the season at the 53:22 mark, banging his effort off the left post on a corner kick by Francesco Saporito to make it a game. The assist was Saporito's league-leadings seventh of the season.
 
"Second half I thought we came out with more energy, fought and got a goal," Kelderman said. "But we dug ourselves a hole and we weren't good enough on the night, weren't sharp enough technically to make up for it."
 
Oakland helped UWM's cause about 10 minutes later, going down a man on a straight red card at the 62:31 mark. From there the Milwaukee offense kept the large majority of possession and had numerous chances down the stretch, none more dangerous than just a few minutes after Glass made a great stop on a breakaway to keep the deficit at one.
 
"Naturally, you get excited when you go a man up," Kelderman said. "When it's close to 30 minutes, and we are unable to score one goal in that situation, that's disappointing."
 
That chance came in the 73^rd minute when, on a cross from Jaime Colin, Conway's would-be equalizer was somehow saved at the post by OU keeper Liam McQueenie, one of his seven saves on the night.
 
UWM kept pushing but would never find the next goal. Saporito's free kick just missed the upper-90 in the 82^nd minute and a last-second effort from Conway off a long free kick with the clock running out went harmlessly wide just before the final horn sounded.
 
The game featured a little bit of everything, with the teams combining for 37 shots, eight cards and almost 50 fouls. Milwaukee ended the contest with a 21-to-16 edge in shots (8-6 shots on goal), while both teams had five corner kicks. The Panthers were whistled for 26 of the 49 fouls, but just two of the eight cards (OU 5 yellow/1 red).
 
Conway finished with a career-high nine shots, four of which were on target. Nick Moon had three. Glass finished the night with four saves in goal.
 
Up next for the Panthers is a big instate rivalry game at Wisconsin Tuesday. Game time in Madison is set for 7 p.m.

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