MILWAUKEE - Junior Callie O'Donnell scored in the 12^th minute and junior goalkeeper Paige Lincicum made seven saves to help the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team to a well-deserved 1-1 draw with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Friday night at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (2-2-1) held the lead against the Badgers (3-3-1) – a team that started the preseason ranked No. 14 in the country and is still No. 8 in the region and receiving votes in the national poll – until early in the second half in looking for the upset in front of 1,273 fans – the fourth-largest crowd in program history.
 
"I thought the biggest thing was that we stuck with the game plan," Milwaukee head coach Troy Fabiano said. "We got numbers behind the ball and we looked to counter. Wisconsin has some dangerous kids, but I felt we did a good job keeping them in front of us."
 
UWM trailed in shots by a count of 28-4 on the night, but the defense was terrific in limiting the potent Badgers to just a handful of quality chances. Lincicum was the difference on a few occasions, making some dazzling stops – one in the 85^th minute – in addition to the standard ones, one of which came in the 88^th minute to send the match to overtime.
 
"Paige was good tonight," Fabiano said. "She kept us organized. Our entire defensive group kept them in front so the shots they did have were from distance and I felt good about that. We wish we could have had a little more possession, but Wisconsin kept coming and coming."
 
The Panthers packed the first punch, scoring early to take over momentum when O'Donnell and sophomore Sydney Senn converged to force a UW turnover in back. O'Donnell gained possession, making one touch to buy space before sneaking the low shot inside the right post for her first of the season at the 11:42 mark.
 
"I think the biggest thing was that it gave us a lot of confidence," Fabiano said. "Getting a goal in the 12^th minute really boosted everybody's confidence that we could play with them."
 
The goal ended up being the only shot of the first half for UWM, but they made it count on the scoreboard. It stayed 1-0 until the 58^th minute. Victoria Pickett tied it when she volleyed a loose ball following a corner kick into the back of the net.
 
The Badgers went on the offensive in the second half, recording 17 shots in the second 45 minutes alone, including one that hit the post.
 
But it was the Panthers with the best chance to win it in extra time. Junior Maria Stephans sent a corner kick on net in the 104^th minute. The Badger keeper got a hand on it but could not control. Senn got a foot on it and sent it on goal, but a Wisconsin defender was there to clear it off the line and prevent the golden goal.
 
The team will be off Saturday but returns to the pitch Sunday, headed to Illinois to take on Chicago State. Game time is set for 2 p.m.

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