MILWAUKEE - Cheenuj Shong scored a goal in each half to lead the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team Wednesday evening at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (3-7-2, 1-3-1 Horizon League) outshot the Phoenix (4-5-3, 2-1-2 Horizon League) by more than double on the night, but could not covert any of their 17 attempts into goals.
 
"For the first 20 minutes, I was really pleased with our energy and how we were playing," UWM head coach Kris Kelderman said. "Then we went through about a five-minute stretch where things changed a bit and they got their goal. Cheenuj finished well, he took care of the opportunity that he got, but it was a failed clearance on our part. Then we lost our rhythm and Green Bay was very good after that."
 
With the victory, Green Bay maintains possession of the "Chancellor's Cup", the traveling trophy that goes to the winner of the annual in-state matchup. Milwaukee falls to 24-16-5 all-time in the series that dates back to 1975. The Phoenix extend their hot streak, making it five games in a row without a loss (3-0-2).
 
The Panthers came out the aggressors, recording the first four shots of the night over the first 13-plus minutes of the contest, but could not put any on frame.
 
The two teams combined for 11 shots in the first half, but the only attempt on goal resulted in the score, as Shong finished nicely from the top of the box after several touches to create an opening in the 24^th minute.
 
Pushing for the equalizer immediately after intermission, the Panthers found themselves down two goals just 90 seconds after the break. It was Shong again, receiving a pass with his back to the goal, turning and beating the UWM keeper at the 46:30 mark.
 
"The second goal being scored on us affected our attitude and our aggression," Kelderman said. "Then the hole was a little deeper and we had to really start pushing and going for it. I thought the guys showed good energy, I thought their response was good, but at the end of the day the quality just wasn't good enough."
 
From there it was all Milwaukee as far as the shot chart went, with the Panthers accounting for 11 of the 14 shots in the second half. Freshman Francesco Saporito had a pair of opportunities near the one-hour mark. His shot off a centering pass from freshman Peter Raymonds was saved in the 59^th minute and, just two minutes later, he saw his next attempt go off the post.
 
Sophomore Nick Moon tried to get UWM back in the game in the 81^st minute, but his volley off a headed centering pass from senior Declan Rodriguez went inches over the cross bar.
 
"If Nick can finish that, all of a sudden it's 2-1 and things can change and we have time to change it," Kelderman said. "We just weren't good enough when we need to be."
 
It was Moon again in the 87^th minute, nearly sneaking in a rocket from the wing at the post. Green Bay goalkeeper Kyle Ihn was up to the task, making that stop as one of his four saves on the night in earning the shutout win.
 
For the game, Milwaukee ended with a huge 17-to-8 advantage in shots, as well as a 4-to-2 edge in shots on goal. Both teams had a pair of corner kicks and Green Bay was whistled for 20 of the 31 fouls on the night.
 
Senior goalkeeper Agustin Rey made two saves in defeat. Rodriguez, Raymonds, Moon and Saporito accounted for three shots each.
 
Up next, the Panthers remain at home and welcome Wright State Saturday. The matchup is part of a women's/men's doubleheader, with the start time against the Raiders tentatively set for 7:30 p.m.

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