Milwaukee Falls to Wisconsin in First Round of NCAA Tournament

MADISON, Wis.—The Milwaukee men’s soccer team made its ninth all-time NCAA tournament appearance in Madison, WI in front of a crowd of nearly 1500. An early goal by Wisconsin proved to be the game-winner as the Badgers move on to the second round to play Notre Dame Sunday, Nov. 24.

The Badgers broke out with an early lead in the 12th minute when Nick Janus crossed the ball to the center of the box to teammate Chris Pence. Pence then slotted the ball past Liam Anderson on the left side of the net for the first goal of the evening and eventual game-winner.

The match was very physical between the two in-state rivals, who tied 1-1 earlier this season. Over the course of the match, 38 fouls were given out between the two squads.

In the 33rd minute, Anderson made a key diving save off of a ball fired toward the net by Janus from a cross on a Wisconsin breakaway. The freshman goalkeeper settled in after the goal by the Badgers and had an impressive performance in his NCAA tournament debut.

In the closing minutes of the second half, Robbie Boyd broke free on the left side of the net and fired a shot across the goal. Wisconsin’s goalkeeper Max Jentsch made a diving save to preserve the lead for the Badgers.

A minute later, Anderson made another diving save for the Panthers off of a Wisconsin pass to the left side of the net by Tomislav Zadro that found the foot of Brian Hail. The save kept the game at close range for Milwaukee going into halftime.

Anderson had three saves in the first half while Wisconsin’s Jentsch had two. Wisconsin and Milwaukee were even at five shots each, while the Panthers led in corners 5-2.

Milwaukee controlled most of the second half as the game’s intensity built up with each remaining minute. Although the Panthers controlled possession and pace of the game, shots on goal were still hard to come by against the Badger defense.

In the 79th minute, Milwaukee had an opportunity to tie the match when Laurie Bell drove down the right side of the field and sent a high cross to the center of the box. The cross found the head of James Ashcroft who launched it past Wisconsin’s goalkeeper Jentsch but was stopped by the crossbar.

The Panthers had nine shots and three corners during the second half but could not find the equalizer to send the match to overtime while Wisconsin only had one shot and no corners.

Milwaukee concluded the 2013 season with a 15-3-2 overall record and Horizon League Championship title.