MILWAUKEE - Valparaiso University used a goal in the 82^nd minute to knock off the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team Saturday night at Engelmann Stadium by a final score of 1-0.
 
The Panthers (2-5-2, 1-1-1 Horizon League) and Crusaders (6-2-2, 2-0-1 Horizon League), who came into the match ranked eighth in the NSCAA Great Lakes Region, played an evenly contested match that featured up-and-down action. The teams combined for 34 shots, yet the lone goal by Isaiah Madrid at the 81:46 mark provided the difference.
 
"We did a good job in the first half, especially defensively," UWM head coach Kris Kelderman said. "We played against a strong wind and put ourselves in a good position at halftime with the score 0-0. We've just been having a tough time the past few weeks scoring goals, plain and simple. We've been working on it in training, putting the guys in situations where the guys feel more comfortable. We are getting a fair amount of shots but, at the end of the day, it's the quality of the shots. And we need to get better. You can't win a game if you don't score a goal."
 
Senior goalkeeper Agustin Rey made a valiant effort in goal for UWM, recording seven saves on the night – several with highlight-reel efforts.
 
"Augie has been very good in the goal and our back line has been pretty good defensively," Kelderman said. "Even our team defense – I will give everybody credit – we've gotten better on the defensive side and have become a much harder team to play against since the beginning of the season. It's just execution on the offensive side of things."
 
Rey started the night just 40 seconds in, diving to punch a shot up and over the cross bar before most of the crowd had even taken their seats.
 
The Panthers looked like they could strike first, but freshman Tinashe Marowa had his effort from the top of the box punched over the cross bar and was again saved moments later when his effort from the proceeding corner kick was handled by Valpo's Nico Campbell, who posted his fifth shutout in a row.
 
Rey was up to the task time and time again. He made a great grab of a rocket shot with a jumping stop in the 40^th minute and was again there for the stop in the 53^rd on a similar chance.
 
He pushed a free kick just wide at the post that had snuck around the wall in the 66^th minute and made the save of the night in the 74^th when the game was still scoreless.
 
Valpo kept up the pressure and finally broke through when Madrid was able to net his fifth goal of the campaign at the 81:46 mark.
 
The Panthers pushed forward and had close opportunities down the stretch, including a final free kick following a yellow card with 15 seconds left, only to see the Crusaders clear the final danger as the horn sounded.
 
The Panthers were outshot by a total of 20-14 in the game, including 8-3 in shots on goal. The match featured 26 fouls (16 on UWM), with the Crusaders also earning eight of the 14 corner kicks in the match.
 
Up next, a trophy will be on the line for Milwaukee, as it heads to DeKalb, Ill., for the annual LeWang Cup showdown at Northern Illinois Tuesday. Kickoff is set for 7p.m.
 
 

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