The Milwaukee Panthers headed to the University of Chicago with two strong opponents ahead of them and a chance to continue building on the work in their spring season. The results were a 3-0 win over the team's 2011 NCAA First Round foe Illinois State and a 1-0 loss to DePaul.

It was a good start for us as we were giving Illinois State problems, they had to deal with the runs of our forwards and the pressure we were applying. Kelly Lewers was quick to pressure the center back and picked the ball clean off of her. Kelly was then able to take the ball at the goal and slipped it past the goalkeeper to give us a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute. We continued to settle into the flow of the match and were able to maintain our pressing ways into ISU's defensive third. The Redbirds held firm, but we got a second goal starting from an unlikely provider as our keeper Jamie Forbes was able to pick out Melanie Coderre's run. And, after collecting the long pass, Mel slotted her chance past the keeper to extend the lead to 2-0. Our defense held strong and denied Illinois State much space to work with.

We picked up in the second half where we left off the first and Kelsey Holbert was able to earn a corner kick that would set up the third goal. Stephanie Condon drove a quality serve into the box and Sara Zawacki was there to loop her header between the goalkeeper and the defender on the post, scoring in her second consecutive spring match. Forbes not only scored a point on the day, but was able to maintain the clean sheet in the first match.

Game two against DePaul proved to be more challenging for us. DePaul came out intent on going forward and challenging for every ball. They took the lead about 10 minutes into the first period with a chance that just snuck past Forbes. We began to work our way into the match and created a few chances with Lewers and Dorre coming close on a few occasions. The DePaul goalkeeper made some fine saves and had she not, the scoreline and result would likely have been in the our favor. Unfortunately, we were unable to find the net and lost 0-1.

Starting line-up v. DePaul: Forbes (GK), Stern, Kaul, Scott, Caity Bestwina, Demi Price, Kauffung, Steinhauser, Holbert, Lewers, Coderre.

On the day, the team's progress was evident from the past two weeks of training and left everyone hungry to finish the spring season strong.

We resume our spring play this Saturday, April 21st with two 60-minute home matches on Laura Moynihan Field at Engelmann Stadium. We kickoff at 1:15 p.m. with Marquette and at 3:30 with Iowa. We look forward to seeing you there!!

- Head Coach Greg Henschel