DAYTON, Ohio - Sophomore Anna Smalley scored in the 18^th minute and a strong second-half defensive effort by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team preserved a 1-0 victory over Wright State University Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.
 
"Today was a gutsy performance," Milwaukee head coach Troy Fabiano said. "It was our sixth game in 16 days and the heavy legs showed. Overall, I am pleased that they were able to fight all the way to the end of the game and get the win."
 
The Panthers (5-3-2, 2-0-0 Horizon League) continued their strong start to the season with the victory over the Raiders (3-5-1, 0-1-1 Horizon League), jumping out to 2-0 in conference action while making it through the month of September with just one loss in seven games (4-1-2) to date.
 
"Getting a win on the road in conference is big," Fabiano said. "And with how many games we have played recently, the team had to dig deep for the win."
 
Milwaukee dominated possession at the start of the match and broke through at the 17:50 mark. Smalley actually helped set up the goal as well, sending a long ball to junior Callie O'Donnell before she was pulled down from behind just in front of running onto the ball.
 
That set up a 30-yard free kick just right of center for UWM. Junior Mariah Stephans stepped up to the spot kick, sending a perfect left-footed serve to the far post. Smalley beat the charging goalkeeper to the ball, heading it into the net just before it was grabbed out of the air to net the eventual game-winner.
 
Junior Paige Lincicum posted her second shutout of the season, making four saves to record the seventh clean sheet of her career. The only real danger late came in the 74^th minute, but she ran off her line and made the save, denying a potential close-range Raider follow-up shot from happening.
 
The defense was terrific in the second half, holding Wright State without a shot of any kind from the time the period began up to the first shot attempt sent well wide in the 76^th minute – over a half an hour of actual game time.
 
The Panthers spent the second half looking for an insurance goal as well. In the 69^th minute, sophomore Aubrey Krahn picked up a bouncing ball at the top of the penalty area and rocketed a volley just left of frame.
 
With just under seven minutes remaining, O'Donnell had the best chance to make it 2-0. She dribbled around three defenders from the sideline in and found herself alone with the goalkeeper, but was denied at point-blank range on a nice save.
 
For the game, UWM did hold the 5-4 edge in shots on goal despite Wright State's 11-7 advantage in shots overall. Krahn (2) was the only Panther with more than one on the day. Each team had three corner kicks and four saves with the Panthers whistled for 11 of the 18 total fouls on the day.
 
Up next, Milwaukee closes September and opens October with conference action at home. The team welcomes Green Bay Wednesday and Youngstown State Saturday.

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