Oct. 15, 2012

The Last Meeting Cleveland State* 3 Milwaukee 2 October 1, 2011 Engelmann Stadium Panther Comeback Falls Short In 3-2 Loss To Cleveland State The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team scored two late goals to nearly overcome a 3-0 deficit, but fell short in dropping a 3-2 decision to Cleveland State Saturday evening at Engelmann Stadium. Despite a 3-0 deficit, the Panthers (5-5, 2-1 Horizon) did not relent in the attack. Cody Banks converted a penalty kick in the 87th minutes and Adam Hutchinson found the back of the net in the final minute of regulation to pull within a goal, but UWM could get no closer in dropping its first league game of the season. Recap | Box Score

After a rare weekend off, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team gets back to the playing field with a pair of games this week. First off, the Panthers look to stay undefeated at home in 2012 when they host Omaha Tuesday. Then, on the weekend, it's off to Ohio for a big Horizon League clash with Cleveland State. Tuesday's game is set for a 3 p.m. start and the CSU game will start at 6 p.m. CST.

UWM Game Notes

The contest against the Mavericks will be the first-ever between the two schools on the soccer pitch. Milwaukee does lead the series with Cleveland State by a count of 24-14-3, but the Vikings have made inroads the past four years by posting a 2-1-1 mark in that time. Prior to that, UWM recorded an 18-game winning streak over CSU that spanned 15 seasons.

Live statistics of both matches will be available on the UWM website and video of both can be seen live on the Horizon League Network.

LAST WEEK
Milwaukee had just one game, but the result was impressive. The team topped Wisconsin, 1-0, to post its first win in the series since 2005. Senior Jamie Bladen scored a second-half goal and freshman Connor Revsbeck made some key saves to keep the shutout intact.

For his efforts, Revsbeck earned Horizon League Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors. He is the third different player to be honored by the league this season (Laurie Bell; John Shakon).

OFF TO AN IMPRESSIVE START
Connor Revsbeck became the first freshman goalkeeper to record a shutout in his first collegiate UWM start since Eric Mickschl did so in 2003, a five-save outing in a 1-0 win over New Mexico Aug. 31, 2003.

DEJA VU
The game-winning goal for senior Jamie Bladen against Wisconsin Oct. 10 was his second-straight, marking the first time since 2004 that the same player has been responsible for the game-winner in back-to-back matches. That season, Dan Horst had the winner against UNC Wilmington Sept. 19 and Detroit Sept. 25.

PROGRAM FIRST
For the first time since taking the field as a program in 1973, Milwaukee played four consecutive games that went beyond regulation (Bowling Green, Loyola, Green Bay. UIC). The team had played three-straight OT contests a few times, but the four in a row was indeed a first.

RECORD WATCH
The Panthers record of 6-4-2 is its best after 12 games since going 7-2-3 after 12 matches in 2005. They team has already recorded as many wins as the 2011 (6-10-2) and 2010 (6-10-3) teams and more than the 2009 (3-13-2), 2008 (4-10-5) or 2007 (5-12-3) squads.

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.

THEY HAVE ALL OF `EM
Speaking of Green Bay and 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 6-4-2 after 12 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. 15) are now a combined 30-3-5 overall and are each ranked in all of the national polls. Marquette is 12-1-0 and was No. 4 in the most recent NSCAA/Continental Tire poll. Xavier is 9-0-3 and was No. 13 in the most recent poll. Lastly, Northwestern is 9-2-2 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 (third with 14), goals (tied for third 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 212 shots through the first 12 games of the season and lead the Horizon League in shots per game at 17.7. Valparaiso is now second at 15.2.

Following its last outing, Milwaukee had two of the top 10 in the league in the category, with sophomore Laurie Bell second in the conference with 42 shots. In addition, freshman Aaron Horvat was tied for fourth with 32.

SCORING IN BUNCHES
UWM has scored at least two goals in six out of 12 games in 2012 and are second in the Horizon League in that category with 18 (leader has 19). 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 40 starts overall this season. UWM has started as many as five freshmen in a game (Oct. 10 at Wisconsin), with Declan Rodriguez starting 11 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 2012. 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.

VIDEO COVERAGE EXTENDED
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will stream 29 home fall sporting events live through the end of October as part of the Horizon League Network. The 29 events during the first two-plus months of the school year mark just the beginning of an extensive streaming schedule for the Panthers through HLN.

Matt Menzl and Nate Lisko return as the two main voices of Panther athletics in the fall. Menzl will call the majority of soccer matches while Lisko will be the voice of Panther volleyball. In addition to the volume of home events, many of UWM's league road events are also available through the Horizon League Network via broadcasts from the host institution. Live streaming of home events is just one part of UWM's extensive online video presence. The Black and Gold Network - the You Tube channel for Panther athletics - will again provide a variety of features, previews, postgame interviews and highlights. Last school year, the Black and Gold Network produced over 300 video features with more than 50,000 page views. Those broadcasts are produced by the home school, with a full listing of those events available at horizonleague.com.

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.

UWM'S NEW HOME TURF
A new synthetic playing surface was installed at Engelmann, giving the Panthers a FIFA Two-Star Field, with the new Polytan playing surface the first of its kind in North America.

Engelmann Stadium has been the home of Panther soccer since the 1970's, and soccer supporters have been stepping forward to help with improvements to what is considered one of the best college soccer environments in the country.

ON TAP
The Panthers will close out the month of October with a pair of league games, starting by hosting first-place Detroit Wednesday.