With the Milwaukee Cup just around the corner, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women’s soccer team looks to bounce back from a 1-0 exhibition loss to 20th ranked Illinois on Sunday, August 26.

Scoring chances were hard to come by as the Lady Panthers were only able to get off four shots, two of them on goal. Panther strikers were able to control the ball for much of the game but could not seem to get a shot past Illinois goalies Alexandra Kapicki and Lindsey Carstens, who each played a half.

Scoring sets were also hard to come by for the Panthers as they only had two corner shot chances all game. The Illinois blasted 16 shots at the Lady Panther defense, with six on goal. Jordan Hilbrands struck a ball in minute 19 to put the Illinois up 1-0 early in the first half, Hilbrands ball would prove to be all the Illinois needed to get past the Panthers. The Panther defense looked strong however, holding No.20 Illinois to only six shots on goal. Coming into the 2007 season the middle defense was an issue to address for the Lady Panthers, having lost a couple key senior defenders to graduation.

The Panthers had a couple chances to get the equalizer despite not getting many shots off. Senior Amanda Winn played a ball to freshman Nicole Sperl, but they were unable to team up for the goal in the early stages of the second half.

When the regular season begins Friday, the Lady Panthers will look to make it eight-straight regular season titles. After winning the title last season the team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament by beating Michigan in a 0-0 double overtime win via penalty kicks, 5-3, before losing to No. 1 seed Notre Dame 1-0.

The Lady Panthers will match up with Indiana State at Engelmann field for game one of the Milwaukee Cup on Friday, Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m. and will start their Horizon League schedule at Butler on Sept. 28.

> Comments