Looking ahead to the future, this year was a memorable rebuilding year that will have an impact on the years to come.

It was going to be a season to remember. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee had two teams sitting with number one seeds and the third with a number two seed going into the Horizon League Tournaments, but none of them came out on top.

The women’s soccer team finished with an undefeated Horizon League record of 7-0-1 and an overall record of 13-4-4 before losing in the Horizon League Championship after two overtimes and a six-round shootout to Loyola-Chicago.

The men’s soccer team had an automatic bid to the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament after finishing second in the league despite starting the season 0-8-1. UWM dominated in league play, finishing 5-2-1, but were eliminated from the Horizon League Tournament after losing in a 1-0 overtime match to UIC.

First year head coach Susie Johnson had everything in place for a dominant season with the women’s volleyball team, finishing the regular season with a 25-3 record, losing only one league match. The Panthers were eliminated in the semifinals to league newcomer Valparaiso but still have hopes of an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.

All of these teams looked to make a huge impact in the NCAA Tournaments, as UWM would have had a chance at seeing all three receive automatic bids. Though the season didn’t work out as hoped for the Panthers, there are many positives to look back on and even more to look forward to.

The women’s soccer team saw junior goalkeeper Erin Kane break the all-time minutes record and tie the all-time wins record in the same game, and she still has one more season in front of the net for the Panthers. Losing only four seniors to graduation, the Panthers will see eight starters from the championship game return to the lineup for the 2008-09 season. With Kane getting better by the game, the Panthers should be the team to look out for next season.

With Panther head coach Jon Coleman turning the season completely around, the Panther men’s soccer team has the definition of an up and down season behind them. With the worst start in UWM men’s soccer history, breaking the record by three loses, the Panthers completely turned around their season, ending the year with two of the three trophies they play for in hand. Coleman will have a young squad next season, losing seven starters to graduation. The leadership will be at goalkeeper in the coming year, with Grant Fernstrum and Ryan Germann both returning. The Panthers should have no problem making an immediate impact next season.

Johnson will have a task at hand in her second season as the Panther women’s volleyball coach. Though their season is not officially over, the Panthers will lose five seniors to graduation if they are not given an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers will return key contributors in junior Becky Peters, sophomores Kellye Zaporski and Lauren Felsing and freshmen Natalie Schmitting and Maddie Sueppel. With that team, the Panthers should have no problem reaching the NCAA Tournament in one, or both, of the next two seasons as they will only lose Peters after next year to graduation.

Many Panthers will think of this season as a year to forget, but looking ahead to the future this year was a memorable rebuilding year that will have an impact on the years to come. Look for the next couple seasons to be historical in UWM athletic history, and remember, there’s always next year.

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