Ann Arbor, Mich. - No. 19 Michigan scored three second-half goals to hand the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team a 3-0 defeat Friday evening at U-M Soccer Stadium.

The Panthers fall to 0-1-0 on the season, dropping its season-opener for the first time since a 2005 loss to Northwestern.

"I was pleased with our team's effort tonight," Milwaukee head coach Greg Henschel said. "I think we are about right on pace right now. We showed really well for about 60 or 70 minutes tonight and I was really proud of their effort. It was a good side we played; Michigan deserves a lot of credit for staying the course because I think they were on the verge of a bit of frustration but they deserve a lot of credit for finding a positive result. I was pleased with our effort for our first match of the 2013 season."

Making her first collegiate start, freshman Paige Lincicum got the nod in net and made four saves, keeping one of the top teams in the country off the scoreboard for the first 60 minutes of the game.

"Paige was good for us tonight," Henschel said. "She has shown (assistant coach) Dave (Madsen's) finger print because Dave has had the opportunity to be around her this last year. I think what we saw from Paige tonight is really a reflection of how hard the whole goal-keeping crew works. Dave just does a fantastic job and that was great to see another positive in tonight's match."

Milwaukee created its first dangerous chance midway through the first half. Amy Kauffung dribbled all the way down the right side of the field, beating the last defender. Her cross went off the Michigan keeper's hands and right to Kelsey Holbert, but Holbert's shot was caught in traffic before being cleared away.

The Panthers gained confidence as the first half went on, creating a handful of chances in the final 20 minutes before halftime but could not find the finishing touch.

"The build up on that (sequence) was really good and I was really pleased with that," Henschel said. "I think I said, for the early part of the season for what I think is a pretty young group, they really created some great moments and I was really happy to see that we didn't just spend the entire match defending against a good Michigan side. I felt very pleased with our possession and our intent going forward to create scoring chances against a good, solid opponent."

The Wolverines got on the board midway through the second half off a header by Nicky Waldeck. U-M earned a free kick just outside the right side of the box and a perfectly placed ball found the head of Waldeck who pushed it into the top, far side corner of the net.

UWM pushed back after the first goal, holding the run of play and generating strong shots from Holbert and Kelly Lewers, both blocked away by the Wolverine defense.

Michigan added another 10 minutes later when Nkem Ezurike, one of the nation's leading goal scorers from a year ago, found herself one-on-one with an oncoming Lincicum and chipped the ball from just outside the box to make it 2-0. U-M added a third two minutes later on an impressive shot from the right side of the box to close out the scoring.

The Panthers continue their opening weekend trip, taking on Michigan State. Kick off is scheduled for noon Central from East Lansing.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Best of Men's College Soccer Week 13