Milwaukee Defeats San Francisco in NCAA First Round, Faces Top-Ranked UC-Santa Barbara

Nov. 20, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. - Steve Sperl scored with under three minutes remaining to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to a 3-2 victory over No. 20 University of San Francisco in the first round of the NCAA Tournament here Saturday (Nov. 20). The Panthers won an NCAA First Round game for the third consecutive season while improving to 14-4-3 on the year. USF's season ends with a 14-5-1 record.

"This was just an unbelievable spectacle of soccer," UWM head coach Louis Bennett said. "USF had a great setup which led to the players putting on an excellent performance. This was just a great win for our program."

Milwaukee grabbed an early 1-0 lead less than five minutes in thanks to a goal by Chris Brisson. Antou Jallow took a Zeke Dombrowski throw in and dribbled towards the end line. The senior then rifled a pass across the front of the net where Brisson slid and drove it into the back of the net.

The Panthers took the one-goal lead into the break only to see the Dons quickly tie the game in the 53rd minute by Al Bedrosian. The two teams battled for most of the second half before UWM grabbed its second lead of the game. Antou Jallow scored his 17th goal of the season when he flicked home a diving header from a Dale Weiler cross. The Dons continued to battle and tied the game for the second time, this time on a Brandon McDonald header from a Jordan Keyes long flip throw.

The game appeared to be headed to overtime before Sperl's heroics. After narrowly missing a potential game-winner just a minute earlier, Sperl took a Weiler cross and slipped a shot between the legs of USF keeper Geremy Uhl. The goal was the second of the season for Sperl while Weiler added his 14th and 15th assists of the season.

"I just tried to get the ball on target and I slipped it under the keepers legs," Sperl said. "Dale made another great cross and I just wanted to get a foot on it."

Milwaukee will now advance to the second round and face No. 9 seed but No. 1 ranked UC-Santa Barbara on Tuesday (Nov. 23). The game is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. at Harder Stadium on the UCSB campus.