MADISON, Wis. - Callie O'Donnell scored early and goalkeeper Mallory Geurts made seven saves to help the Milwaukee women's soccer team to a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Wisconsin Thursday night at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
 
The Panthers (2-0-1) held the lead against the Badgers (1-1-1) – a team that started the preseason ranked as high as No. 16 in the country – until late in the second half in looking for the upset in front of 965 fans. The draw did help the team tie the school record, however, extending its unbeaten streak to 13 games (9-0-4) dating back to last season.
 
"They rose to the occasion and got an early goal," Milwaukee head coach Troy Fabiano said. "We knew Wisconsin was going to come at us, but we stayed with the game plan. The early goal was big. Smalley played a great ball through and Callie finished. From a work rate standpoint, I couldn't be any happier with the girls. They worked their tails off and deserved the result. Wisconsin is a great team, but I thought it was a fair result for both sides."
 
Just 1:56 in and Milwaukee struck quickly to seize the early momentum. Anna Smalley picked up the ball just past midfield and carried it through traffic, dropping a perfect ball to the foot of O'Donnell through the back line traffic. O'Donnell went back across the goal, netting her third of the season to set the tone.
 
The Panthers made a push late in the frame as well. A foul on a breakaway set up a free kick that was put on frame by Maria Stephans. That ball was knocked out for a 31^st-minute corner kick that created trouble in. McKaela Schmelzer also had a crack at it, forcing a tough save on a chip attempt in the 39^th minute.
 
The Badgers pressed hard for the equalizer in the second half. The Milwaukee defense may have bent a bit, but never broke until late, with Geurts making the needed saves and the team defense clearing away 11 corner kicks on the day.
 
A little luck never hurts, with Schmelzer heading a loose ball out of trouble in the 48^th minute and Kiley Kreple in the right place at the right time in the 53^rd. Geurts ran off her line to grab a ball served in, but it bounced over the top, with Kreple there to knock the slowly-rolling ball off frame.
 
The tying strike finally came after lots of pressure with Micaela Powers rifling one through the box when the UWM defense could not find a way to clear it at the 75:35 mark.
 
"I give the girls a ton of credit, they worked hard and we had our chances," Fabiano said. "We knew we had to stay compact … the biggest thing is we wanted to keep them in front of us. She (the UW goal scorer) had a great finish, but we didn't clear it when we had the chance. That's what this game is about – you have to take care of your opportunities and she hit a cracker."
 
The Badgers carried a higher percentage of possession overall and finished with a 19-to-8 advantage in shots (8-to-6 shots on goal), but Milwaukee had the more dangerous scoring chances.
 
The overtime did not produce any serious threats either way, with Wisconsin holding a 3-1 edge in shot attempts. Geurts did make a great diving save at the post in the 83^rd minute that preserved the draw.
 
The team is off until Sunday, welcoming Southeast Missouri to Engelmann Stadium with a chance to set a new program record with its unbeaten streak. The last time the Panthers went 13 unbeaten was 2006 (12-0-1), a standard first set in 2005 (10-0-3).
 
"We don't read into it," Fabiano said. "We take it game by game – especially so early in the season – and want to get better. Playing in an environment like this, against a Top 20 team in the country, only helps us in getting where we want to get this season."
 
Any fan that brings a school item to the game receives $1 admission. School items will then be donated to the Hartford University School close to campus.

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