Oct. 9, 2012

Game 12 | Milwaukee (5-4-2) @ Wisconsin (3-5-3)
Date	Wednesday, October 10 | 7 p.m.
Location	Madison, Wis. | McClimon Soccer Complex
Live Stats	Gametracker
Media	Listen Live | Watch Live (Fee)

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer has just one game on the schedule this week, but it's a big one, heading to Madison to take on the University of Wisconsin Wednesday evening in a game set for a 7 p.m. start.

UWM Game Notes

Wisconsin Game Notes

Milwaukee plays all three of the other in-state schools each season, with each contest in 2012 being a road match. So far, UWM is 1-1, falling in the final seconds to Marquette and tying Green Bay.

The all-time series is now tied, 15-15-6, with the Badgers bringing a commanding six-game unbeaten streak into play (4-0-2), which includes the past four victories via shutout (9-0 cumulative). The last UWM win came in the form of a 2-0 victory in 2005 and is Milwaukee's only `W' in the last nine (1-6-2).

Live statistics of the match will be available on the UWM website. Wednesday's game will be available via live video (for a fee on BTN.com) as well as a live audio broadcast.

PROGRAM FIRST
For the first time since taking the field as a program in 1973, Milwaukee has played four consecutive games in a row that have gone beyond regulation. The team had played three-straight OT contests a few times, but four in a row is indeed a first.

KEEP SHOOTING
The 34 shots that the Panthers recorded at Green Bay Oct. 3 were easily a season-high. In fact, it's just the second time since 2005 that UWM has had 30 or more in a game. The last time a UWM squad recorded more than 34 shots in a game was in October of 2000. That season, UWM put up 39 shots in a 1-1 draw against, you guessed it, the Phoenix.

MORE EXTRA SOCCER LAST WEEK
Milwaukee went 1-0-1 last week, staying unbeaten in league play with a 2-2 draw at Green Bay and a 2-1 OT victory over UIC.

The Panthers overcame a 2-0 deficit against the Phoenix to retain the Chancellor's Cup with the draw. After falling down, 2-0, early in the second half, freshman Patrick Ruhland got UWM on the board in the 55th minute and sophomore Laurie Bell netted the equalizer in the 77th minute.

Against UIC, sophomore Zach Stevenson put Milwaukee ahead, 1-0, but the Flames would make it a new game with a second-half strike. Senior Jamie Bladen ended the drama early in OT, heading in the winner in the 2-1 victory.

THEY HAVE ALL OF `EM
Speaking of the "Chancellor's Cup", it is one of the three traveling trophies that the Panthers play for each and every season. In addition, Milwaukee takes on Marquette for the "Milwaukee Cup" and also plays Northern Illinois for the "LeWang Trophy". In 2011, UWM posted wins in all three games (2-1 over Marquette; 3-2 in double-overtime against Green Bay and 1-0 against NIU) to hold all three trophies for the first time since the start of the 2005 campaign.

GET OFF THE BUS
The Panthers returned home to host UIC Oct. 6, marking over a full month in between home games for the team after last playing at Engelmann Stadium Sept. 2. The team is 4-0 in Milwaukee so far in 2012 and had not had such an extended run of road matches (six) since six straight in 2004 (from September 13 to October 13).

ABOUT THOSE LOSSES
Milwaukee stands in at 5-4-2 after nine games. A closer look makes the record a bit more impressive. The three teams that UWM has lost to in regulation in 2012 (as of Oct. 9) are now a combined 27-2-4 overall and are each ranked in all of the national polls. Marquette is 11-0-0 and is No. 4 in the most recent NSCAA/Continental Tire poll. Xavier is 9-0-2 and is No. 13 in the most recent poll. Lastly, Northwestern is 7-2-2 and is receiving votes in the NSCAA poll, but ranked in all the others.

RING THE BELL
Sophomore Laurie Bell continues to be among the Horizon League leaders in points (second with 14), goals (tied for second with five) and assists (tied for first with four) following UWM's last outing. In fact, Bell was honored by the Horizon League office Oct. 8 with his second league "Player of the Week" award in 2012.

Bell scored in three games in a row (Aug. 26-Sept. 2) and was looking to be the first UWM player to find the back of the net in four straight since Antou Jallow last accomplished the feat in November of 2004. The goal-scoring streak was snapped at Xavier Sept 9, but he did have an assist in back-to-back matches to record at least one point in five games in a row. The last UWM player to record a goal or assist in five straight games was Zeke Dombrowski in 2007.

POLL POSITION
The Panthers were receiving votes in the NSCAA Great Lakes Regional poll for three weeks in a row, culminating with an appearance at No. 10 the week of Sept. 18. That marked the first time in the regional poll since being ranked third in the November 15, 2005 poll.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
The Panthers have now recorded 205 shots through the first 11 games of the season and lead the Horizon League in shots per game at 18.6. Valparaiso is now second at 15.3.

Following its last outing, Milwaukee had two of the top 10 in the league in the category, with sophomore Laurie Bell leading the conference with 41 shots. In addition, freshman Aaron Horvat was tied for 3rd with 30.

SCORING IN BUNCHES
UWM has scored at least two goals in six out of 11 games in 2012 and lead the Horizon League in that category with 17. In addition, the squad is also first in points with 47 and third in assists with 13.

The Panthers have now already had 10 different players score goals and 13 different players record points this season. Once again for comparison, as recently as 2009, those numbers were eight goal scorers and nine point scorers over the course of the entire season.

For perspective, UWM scored 27 goals in 18 games in 2011 for an average of 1.5. It had 17 goals in 2011 and had just 12 over the course of the 2009 campaign. At this rate, Milwaukee will score its highest amount of goals in quite some time. The Panthers netted 17 goals in 2008, 16 in 2007 and 26 in 2006. The last time a Milwaukee squad averaged two goals per game or better was in 2004, when it tallied 44 goals in 22 games.

LEARNING ON THE FLY
It may take more than a quick glance at the season statistics to notice, but the Panthers have been playing a very young squad so far in 2012. In fact, freshmen have accounted for 35 starts overall this season. UWM has started as many as four freshmen in a game (on two occasions), with Declan Rodriguez starting 10 games each so far.

THEY LIKE THE "S" IN GOALS
The multi-goal efforts from the Panthers so far in 2012 cannot be overlooked, as they had a streak of four-straight games with at least two goals snapped at Xavier Sept. 9 when they only netted one. UWM has had some high-powered offenses over the years, but the last time Milwaukee scored two goals (or more) in four straight games was the end of the 2004 campaign when it beat Cleveland State (4-0), Wright State (3-0), Detroit (3-0) and #20 San Francisco in the NCAA Tournament (3-2).

FOR OPENERS
Milwaukee is now 18-17-5 all-time in season openers, including a 13-12-3 ledger in road openers after the heartbreaking 3-2 loss at Marquette Aug. 24. Prior to a win in 2010, the Panthers had been a bit jinxed in their season opener the past few years, not having come out on top since the 2003 season in going 0-4-2 from 2004-09.

Head coach Kris Kelderman had one season opener under his belt at the collegiate level prior to last week. A year ago, his Green Bay squad topped SIU Edwardsville, 1-0.

89:59
For the second time this season, Milwaukee played in a game where the winning goal was scored as the horn sounded to end regulation, with freshman Pol Narbona thrilling a packed Engelmann Stadium with his goal against IUPUI Aug. 31. His winning goal went into the books at the 89:59 mark, quickly making happier memories of the buzzer-beater after UWM suffered the same fate at Marquette in the season opener.

If you are a fan of late goals, it can't come any later. Cody Banks scored the memorable game-winner against Green Bay last season with just seven seconds left in double-overtime, making it one of the latest goals to end a match (109:53) in recent memory. Since 2000, only a handful has even come close. UWM and Green Bay are familiar with the late heroics, with their game in 2010 decided in the 109th minute in the win by the Phoenix. Looking back, Milwaukee lost a 2-1 game to Michigan in October of 2005 in the 109th minute.

The other contenders? Vermont edged UWM, 2-1, with just 21 seconds left in double-OT in 2010 and Bowling Green defeated Milwaukee, 2-1, back in the 2001 season with just 15 seconds left in double-overtime as well.

FRESHMAN IMPACT
Freshman Declan Rodriguez did not take long to make an impression as a Panther. Inserted into the lineup at halftime of the game against Marquette Aug. 24, he tallied the first goal of his career just 25 minutes later to give UWM a 2-1 lead at the time. Then, against Northern Kentucky Aug. 26, his header off a corner kick tied the game, 1-1, before Milwaukee would go on to prevail.

In doing so, Rodriguez became the fourth freshman since 2000 to score in the season opener, joining Antou Jallow (2001), Adam Skalecki (2005) and Edison Crespo (2010) on that list. He also became just the second-ever freshman to score in the first two games of the season.

EXHIBITION SEASON REWIND
Milwaukee played just one exhibition contest against outside competition, falling to DePaul, 1-0, Aug. 20. The Panthers outshot the Blue Demons and had plenty of scoring chances, but could not find the back of the net and a goal scored directly off a corner kick in the 59th minute proved the difference.

PANTHERS FOUND THE OFFENSE
Overall in 2011, the Panthers featured one of their highest-powered offenses in quite some time. Their 79 points led the Horizon League, with their 1.5 goals per game (27 total goals) second and 1.39 assists per game ranking at the top of the conference. For perspective, UWM scored 17 goals in 2010 and had just 12 total over the course of the 2009 campaign. The team also recorded 272 shots - a total that also placed second in the league.

COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS TABS BOYD
Junior Robbie Boyd earned some national recognition when the website "College Sports Madness" announced its Preseason All-Horizon League squads. Listed among the 22 members of the first and second team was Boyd, selected as a first-team honoree at forward.

WELCOME TO MILWAUKEE
There will be plenty of chances for newcomers to make an impression in 2012, as 16 players out of the 32 on the roster will be putting on a UWM uniform for the first time this season.

In addition to the players that have never put on a UWM uniform before, one addition will be welcomed back. Junior Andrew Wiedabach will return after a season away. Wiedabach has a resume that includes Horizon League All-Newcomer status as a freshman and then first-team all-league honors in 2010 when he led the team in points (13), goals (4), assists (5) and shots (58).

MORE WITH COACH KELDERMAN
Look for a weekly audio podcast of the "Kris Kelderman Show", as we sit down weekly with Kris to revisit the week that was and talk about the upcoming schedule. The first episode was made available Aug. 21 and will follow with a new episode every Monday during the course of the 2012 campaign.

The show is available as a link off the main UWM website page or directly at www.uwmpanthers.cstv.com/genrel/podcasts.html.

ON TAP
The Panthers are back at home next Tuesday to host Nebraska-Omaha. That game is set for a 3 p.m. start at Engelmann Stadium.