Evenly matched teams may have been the reason why both of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s soccer games ended in 1-1 ties on Sept. 23 and 25. UWM (3-1-3) tied Oregon State 1-1 on Friday and tied Gonzaga by the same score on Sunday in the Gonzaga Tournament.

In the first game, UWM had a 1-0 lead over Oregon State until the 69th minute when Oregon State was able to tie up the score with a penalty kick.

UWM outshot Oregon State five to zero in the first half and 10 to five overall. They could not convert on those opportunities.

In the 15th minute, sophomore midfielder Tenzin Rampa had an opportunity to break the scoreless tie with a header, but it sailed wide of the net.

Finally in the 24th minute, UWM took a corner kick. After the ball sailed right back to him, junior forward Dale Weiler sent a lob pass back toward the goal. Both forward Steve Sperl and midfielder Zeke Dombrowski got touches before Steve Bode put it in the net.

Oregon State took its time answering the goal, but in the 69th minute UWM’s Rampa was called for using his hands on the ball in the box. Oregon State converted with the ensuing penalty kick to tie the game at 1-1.

During overtime the game got more physical. In the second overtime, seven yellow cards were issued, five on UWM. Both head coach Louis Bennett and assistant coach Jon Coleman received a yellow.

“It was an interesting, difficult game that was made even more complicated by the opposition, the bench and the referee,” Bennett said. “I've been in the game a long time as a professional and as a coach, and this was one of the poorest showings of intercollegiate athletics I’ve seen.”

UWM had many opportunities to win the game in the second overtime, including two in the final minute.

The Panthers had a day off before their match against tournament host Gonzaga.

In this match, UWM would have to play catch-up after Gonzaga’s late first-half goal in the 40th minute on a penalty kick.

UWM brought it down to the wire before knotting the score at 1-1 when they were awarded a free kick from 30 yards out in the 81st minute. Junior Craig Mallace took the free kick and it was partially deflected before it went in.

UWM outshot Gonzaga 11-7.

The Panthers will travel to Cleveland, Ohio, to take on Cleveland State University on Thursday, Sept. 29.

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