As he has so many times before, 6'8 Justin Stanko (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) used his size and stature to head in the go-ahead goal with less than a minute remaining as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's soccer team defeated St. Norbert 2-1 Tuesday at Fiskum Field in Whitewater. The fifth-ranked Warhawks remain perfect with a record of 8-0, tying the best start in school history. The Green Knights fall to 4-3-1.

Play was even for the first 30 minutes and then the Warhawks kicked it up a notch. Carmel Nezien (Pouni, Burkina Faso/Lycee De Tenado) sent a corner into the box that Jordan Wilkins (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) flicked on to the head of Taylor Ortiz (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) who knocked it in for a 1-0 lead.

The Warhawks would hang on to that lead until halftime.

Six minutes into the second half the Green Knights crossed the ball from the left side of the field to the right where it was corralled by Robert Quinlan. Quinlan slid a pass to Marco Delbecchi who beat the Warhawk defense to tie the game.

With less than 15 minutes remaining in the match, Ortiz put his head on another ball that was destined for the back of the net, but Green Knight keeper Eddie Sanchez made the save.

Ortiz had another shot with less than 10 minutes to go, but Sanchez was again in the way of the Warhawks taking the lead.

As the end of regulation drew near, the excitement and tension grew. The Warhawks earned a corner with less than three minutes to go. Kyle Clancy (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) sent the ball into the box and Jordan Wilkins (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) put his head on it but the result struck the crossbar and bounced back to the head of Justin Stanko (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North). Stanko nailed another header, but that one sailed high.

A foul on St. Norbert in the 87th minute resulted in a direct kick for the Warhawks about 25-yards from the goal. Stanko took the kick and put some heat and a wicked curve on the ball, but Sanchez was there again to make the save for the Green Knights.

With less than a minute remaining the Warhawks earned another corner kick. Clancy took the kick and sent it in front of the net where Stanko connected with his head for the goal and a 2-1 Warhawk lead.

The Green Knights made a valiant effort when play restarted but the Warhawks held on for the win.

UW-Whitewater outshot the visitors 20-6 and Alex Buchman (Waterford, Wis./Waterford) made two saves to earn the win.

The Warhawks return to the field in less than 24 hours when they host Concordia-Wisconsin at 5 pm.

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