GREEN BAY, Wis. - Kelli Swenson's header off a corner kick just before halftime provided the go-ahead goal and the Milwaukee women's soccer team held off a fight from Green Bay in the second half to claim a 2-1 victory Wednesday evening at Aldo Santaga Stadium.
 
The Panthers (10-4-2, 6-1 Horizon Leagueor) took an early lead but had to deal with a quick response from the Phoenix (0-13-1, 0-7 Horizon League), who made it a new game on a penalty kick shortly afterwards. Swenson's first goal of the season helped UWM to the victory, its 13^th in the past 14 meetings with Green Bay.
 
The Milwaukee defense had to be on top of its game to hold on to the one-goal advantage, facing 14 shots by the Phoenix in the second half alone – four of which needed saves from goalkeeper Mallory Geurts. She finished with five stops on the night, the only blemish coming on the first-half PK.
 
The Panthers came out firing, tallying four shots and a pair of corner kicks in the first 14-plus minutes before capitalizing on the next opportunity. Maddie Tetzke found Aubrey Krahn, who scored for the second game in a row with a high shot into the back of the netting at the 15:48 mark.
 
Maria Stephans started the scoring play, recording her league-leading ninth assist in the process.
 
Just three minutes later, the Phoenix made it a new game, taking advantage of a foul by a defender in the box to earn that penalty kick. When Katie Schulz converted, the momentum was shifted and it was a new game at 1-1 just three minutes after the Panthers had broken up the scoreless affair.
 
Milwaukee kept pushing, earning large advantages in possession and shots in the first half – including a shot by Callie O'Donnell off the crossbar in the 27^th minute – before moving ahead once again just before intermission. It came on what is becoming a specialty of the squad this season – a goal off a corner kick for the fifth time this season – when Swenson bagged her first goal of the year on an O'Donnell corner at the 43:16 mark.
 
The offense put up another six shots after intermission to finish with 18 for the night, but could never find the insurance goal they were looking for. Stephans and Anna Smalley each finished with a team-high five shots.
 
The contest finished nearly equal on the stat sheet, with each team recording 18 shots and six attempts on goal. Both teams were also whistled for 10 fouls, while GB had the slim 8-to-7 edge in corner kicks.
 
Up next for the Panthers is the final road game of the season, a trip to Ohio Saturday for matinee action against Youngstown State. Game time against the Penguins is set for 2 p.m. CST.

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