The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s soccer team tied Marquette University 1-1 on a frigid Halloween night at Valley Fields for the first tie in the Milwaukee Cup since 1997, which ended 0-0.

The Panthers had the possession advantage early on, but it was the Golden Eagles that struck first. A cross off the foot of sophomore forward Michael Greene in the 26th minute found teammate Dan Addis, who headed the ball off the crossbar and past Panther goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum.

Milwaukee kept up the pressure all night and finally caught a break in the 85th minute.

Junior midfielder Adam Skalecki had a great shot, but Marquette keeper Matt Pyzdrowski got just enough of the ball to push it away. On the ensuing corner kick, however, Pyzdrowski couldn’t stop Panther captain Steve Bode’s well placed shot off a Martin Castro corner kick.

Neither team had major scoring threats in the two overtimes, and the match ended in a hard fought draw.

“It’s great to play an in-state rival. Tonight had a tournament feel to it,” said Panther head coach Jon Coleman. “I thought we controlled a majority of the game. We fought hard and came back.”

The tie means the Panthers hold onto the Milwaukee Cup for at least one more year. That is the second trophy the team has won in as many matches, and will play for their third win when they take on Northern Illinois University this coming Tuesday in DeKalb, Illinois.

“Having two trophies, it would be great to walk away with all three of them this year,” said Coleman.

That match against NIU will be the final of the regular season for the Panthers. UWM is 5-3-2 since starting the season 0-8, and clinched a second place Horizon League Finish with their win last week against Green Bay and received a bye in the opening round of the conference tournament, held in Chicago, Illinois.

The bye gives them ten days to prepare for their first match, which will be on Nov. 16th.

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