Men's Soccer Championship - Semifinal Update

Nov. 11, 2005

(#2 seed) UW-Milwaukee 1, (#6 seed) UW-Green Bay 0
Detroit, Mich. - Andre Francois' goal in the fifth minute proved to be the only goal of the match as second-seeded UW-Milwaukee held off sixth seed UW-Green Bay, 1-0 in the semifinals of the Horizon League Men's Soccer Championship. The Panthers are now 12-4-4 overall while the Phoenix season ends at 9-10-0.

Steve Sperl set up the strike, finding Francois for a 20-yarder through traffic. Francois' shot eluded Phoenix netminder Adam Stikl at 4:08.

UWM goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum stopped UW-Green Bay's Joshua Okoampa on a breakaway in the 22nd minute to preserve the one-goal advantage. Okoampa took a throw-in and got loose behind the Panther defense, only to have his shot turned aside.

That was one of six first-half shots for UWGB, compared to two for the Panthers. UW-Milwaukee took two of the half's three corner kicks.

Craig Mallace nearly extended the margin in the 66th minute, but hit the crossbar. The Phoenix had several opportunities in the final 25 minutes of the match, with Fernstrum stopping Okoampa's header six minutes later. Okoampa also hit the crossbar in the 76th minute, with Tosaint Ricketts' follow-up try going wide.

UW-Green Bay outshot the Panthers 6-2 in the first half and finished with a 12-7 advance, but Fernstrum registered his eighth shutout of the year with five saves.

With the victory, UW-Milwaukee avenged a 1-0, overtime regular-season loss to the Phoenix on Oct. 26.UW-Milwaukee advances to Sunday's championship contest, opposite the survivor between top seed Detroit and fourth seed Wright State.

Box Score