MILWAUKEE - Freshman Petter Ingebrigtsen netted the eventual game-winner and senior Laurie Bell added an insurance goal to send the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Belmont University Saturday night at Engelmann Stadium.

The Panthers (4-7-2, 1-2-1 Horizon League) put together a complete game against the Bruins (2-11-0, 0-4-0 Horizon League), outshooting their opponents by a count of 15-to-8 while also recording the shutout to earn all three points in the important conference matchup.

“It was a game that we knew what was on the line,” Milwaukee head coach Kris Kelderman said. “It was a pressure situation and we had to step up and get a result today. It was a good performance and a good result that we needed. We went through a tough stretch. It’s time that we step up and hopefully we get some momentum going into our game against Oakland.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Liam Anderson needed to make just two saves to record the 12^th shutout of his career, but the first was a game-saver.

“We had some really good individual performances tonight that, in all honesty, the guys needed to remind themselves that they are good and need to bring it out more often,” Kelderman said.

Scoreless at the time, the Bruins took possession of a turnover at the UWM backline, giving Rashad Hyacenth a one-on-one opportunity to score in the 17^th minute. His blast from the top of the box was on target, but Anderson was there to push it up-and-over the cross bar.

Ingebrigtsen netted his fourth goal of the season less than 10 minutes later, heading in a well-placed endline serve off the foot of junior Aaron Horvat to make it 1-0 at the 26:07 mark.

The Panthers had a few chances to break through in the first 45 minutes. Bell had a one-timer in the box off service from sophomore Beau Laufer saved in the 14^th minute and freshman Reid Stevenson just missed a crack at it in the 23^rd, sending a through ball from junior Declan Rodriguez inches over the cross bar.

Despite a commanding 10-3 advantage in shots in the second half, Milwaukee could seemingly not break through for the second goal. Bell just missed a 35-yard missile off a free kick in the 54^th, sending the attempt off the cross bar and back into play.

It was Bell with the prettiest goal of the night in the 66^th minute, however, finishing nicely by chipping a long serve over the charging goalkeeper for his second of the season.

“The one thing that he has maintained is that he has a great work ethic,” Kelderman said. “Based on his history of scoring, he is used to scoring a lot. He has worked hard, kept plugging away and it showed tonight.”

Horvat started that scoring play as well, putting the ball back into play following a Belmont handball. He found senior Luke Goodnetter, who sent a long 60-yard serve into the box for Bell to run on to and finish at the 65:26 mark.

For the game, UWM ended with a 5-2 advantage in shots on target in addition to the 15-8 game total. It also had three of the five corner kicks and 17 of the 31 fouls.

Up next, the Panthers will look to ride the momentum into Wednesday’s clash at home with Oakland University. The Golden Grizzlies currently reside in first place in the conference standings with a 3-0-1 record. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Engelmann Stadium.

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