Building momentum going into the conference season later this month, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women’s soccer team came into the weekend 3-1 on the year. The Panthers had gone 1-1 the previous weekend, falling to Boston University in a squeaker and knocking off UC-Santa Barbara in the Wisconsin Soccer Classic. Coach Michael Moynihan and the Panthers were looking to head into Boston and pull a sweep this weekend, but came away disappointed. After being narrowly defeated by No. 8 nationally ranked Boston College 1-0, Milwaukee dropped another heartbreaker to Harvard, 1-0.

Boston College turned out to be an equal adversary for the Panthers, but Milwaukee missed their scoring opportunities, including one in the very first minute. Pam Shipway stole the ball outside the box, sending in a pass to sophomore Erin Kreuser. When Kreuser tried to put the ball in the net from five yards out, BC keeper Sarah Buonomo got a piece of it and saved the shot.

Kia McNeill of the Eagles took control of a loose ball in the 29th minute and scored past UWM keeper Erin Kane. For the rest of the game, the Panthers kept the game close with several opportunities. However, without any goals scored, Milwaukee found themselves in the loss column, bringing their record to 3-2.

While Boston College is a bona fide national powerhouse, Harvard’s soccer team is more apt to beat you in Jeopardy than on a soccer pitch. However, still reeling from Friday night’s near miss at BC, the Panthers found themselves on the wrong side of a 1-0 decision yet again. This time, Harvard player Devon Sherman lofted a ball over Erin Kane’s head that found itself in Gina Wideroff’s possession. Wideroff kicked the ball into the net, giving Harvard the only goal they’d need in the match.

What makes yesterday’s loss all the more frustrating was that it didn’t have to be that way. Milwaukee had many chances at scoring goals, but despite a large 23-8 shot advantage, the Panthers could not seal the deal, dropping a heartbreaker to the Crimson.

A very close shot came in the 22nd minute, when freshman Nicole Sperl shot a ball at the goal that bounced off the crossbar.

Make sure you stay tuned this weekend, when the Panthers head to face Wisconsin in Madison on Friday night. After that, the big match up with cross town rival Marquette is Sunday night at Engelmann Field. Game time is 6 p.m., but make sure you arrive early, as seating might be hard to come by.

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