DETROIT, Mich. - Anna Smalley scored the game-winning goal in the final minutes of the second overtime period to send the Milwaukee women's soccer team to a thrilling 1-0 victory over the University of Detroit Mercy Saturday afternoon at Titan Stadium.
 
"I am proud that the team was able to bounce back after an overtime loss [Wednesday at Valparaiso] to get a win in overtime," Milwaukee head coach Troy Fabiano said. "They kept their focus and found a winner."
 
The Panthers (7-4-2, 3-1-0 Horizon League) spent the day dominating the Titans (6-6-1, 2-1-1 Horizon League) on the stat sheet, but waited unto the final minute to find a way to record the victory – their 10^th in a row over Detroit in the all-time series.
 
"We kept possession of the ball and were able to work it through our midfield more than we have in the past few games," Fabiano said. "Being able to keep the ball allowed us to create scoring chances."
 
The golden goal came after UWM retained possession near midfield. Ashley Burkhardt had the throw-in, finding Aubrey Krahn near the sideline. Krahn shielded the defender away, turned and passed, finding Callie O'Donnell in stride. O'Donnell pin-balled it the other way, one-touching it to Smalley who was streaking in on goal.
 
Smalley did the rest, dodging one backline defender's sliding tackle at the top of the box and chipping the keeper to record her seventh goal of the season – and eighth career game-winner – snapping Detroit Mercy's longest unbeaten streak (6 games) since the 1996 season.
 
"We have had a tough stretch with three conference games on the road," Fabiano said. "We are looking forward to getting back on the field at home to continue conference play."
 
Better late than never for a UWM offense that dominated the day, outshooting the Titans by a count of 18-to-8 overall – including 7-to-2 in shots on goal – and a whopping 15-to-2 advantage in corner kicks.
 
The defense did well again, posting its second shutout in the past three contests and fifth overall of the season. It held UDM's Anna Mindling – one of the Horizon League's top scorers at 17 points (8G/1A) coming in – without as much as a shot attempt in 109 minutes on the afternoon.
 
The Panthers nearly had the game settled in the first overtime on a pair of occasions. O'Donnell found herself alone on a great pass from Sydney Senn in front, but had her left-footed blast nicely saved and the loose ball could not be controlled by UWM in the 96^th minute.
 
A few minutes later, Maria Stephans had the ball near midfield and dribbled down the left sideline. She whipped it over the backline missing a few leaping attempts, but O'Donnell ran onto it and had a chance, sending the opportunity screaming just over the cross bar in the 98^th minute.
 
The defense did well to control the Titans, allowing only two of the eight overall shots to even find the target. Goalkeeper Mallory Geurts made both of the saves she was called on for, recording her third solo shutout of the year. O'Donnell paced the offense with four shots, Kelli Swenson was right behind with three.
 
The Panthers return home and are off from midweek action, next hosting Oakland a week from today at Engelmann Stadium. Kickoff time Saturday is set for 7 p.m.

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