For the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s soccer team, Thursday’s 1-0 victory over Cleveland State meant more than just winning their season opener — it was their seventh straight season-opening win.

“Cleveland State’s field is not an easy place to play,” UWM head coach Louis Bennett said. “We had to stay focused and within our means, which we did.”

Senior Neil Dombrowski scored the only goal of the game in the 36th minute as the Panthers shutout the host Vikings.

After Dombrowski was subbed into the game in the 22nd minute, he came out on fire, taking three shots on goal in his first 14 minutes of play. It was the third one, a sweet right-footed shot from the top of the box, that made it past the Vikings defense and goalie Anthony DeMarco.

Dombrowski’s eventual game-winning goal, his team-leading third of the season, was all the Panthers needed to solidify their first league win.

Junior goalkeeper Eric Mickschl made two saves for UWM, earning his second shutout of the season and the eighth of his career. With the shutout, Mickschl improves his goals against average to 1.28 for the season.

While Dombrowski gave UWM the offensive edge, the Panther defense held a strong late-game surge as Cleveland State attempted four shots and a corner kick in the 80th minute, trying to tie the game.

UWM prevailed and the Vikings finished the game with just two shots on goal, both coming after the 80-minute mark.

The Panthers out-shot the Vikings 18 to nine and recorded 14 shots on DeMarco, who had a career-high 13 saves.

With the win, UWM moves to 19-1 against Cleveland State in the past 20 games. The Panthers will return to action Friday when they face Wright State in Dayton, Ohio.

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