Futbol is in full swing this October… that is the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women’s soccer. The way the Panthers have been finding the back of the net lately, one would think the scores to be that of a MLB playoff game. Even Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox cannot get the run support that Panther attackers are giving goaltender Erin Kane right now. UWM opened conference play by making a statement against Butler University (1-1, 3-6-1 Horizon), taking a 5-1 victory. Then it was on to the University of Detroit-Mercy (1-01-, 3-6-2 Horizon) where they secured a 0-0 tie after two overtimes.

With the Phoenix (1-9, 1-3 Horizon) next on the schedule head coach Michael Moynihan knew he couldn’t take them lightly, "Green Bay is a difficult place for us to play. A lot of teams have trouble playing here for whatever reason. Green Bay always has a lot of energy at their home field and they do a lot to try to defend that.” Moynihan had his squad ready, playing for the first time in their black jerseys, and it didn’t take the Panthers much time to start tailing up goals against the Phoenix. Junior Beth Steuer started the Panther attack off with a goal in the 37th minute. It came on a beautiful cross from senior Pam Shipway and then one timer by sophomore Erin Kreuser, her team-leading sixth assist of the season, to Steuer for the first goal.

Then it was sophomore Kayla DeJardin’s turn adding a goal in the 43rd minute. This time it was Steuer starting the action off with a cross into the box for senior Amanda Winn, whose shot was sent out by Phoenix goalkeeper Brooke Wikgren, then blasted into the back of the net by DeJardin. It was her first goal of the season but she wouldn’t be satisfied with just one goal against the Phoenix.

After Winn sent a bender in, that even Beckham would have been proud of, it was DeJardin’s turn again. In the 63rd minute she took a through-ball from the midfield by Nicole Sperl and sent in another shot from 15 yards for her second goal of the match, capping the game off 4-0 sending the Panthers to 6-3-2 and keeping the struggling Phoenix at fifth in the conference at 1-9.

Junior goaltender Erin Kane picked up her 31st career victory in yet another shutout and is now just five wins away from tying the all-time Panther win record of 36.

The Panthers will face Valparaiso on the 12th to continue their Horizon League play. Their next home game will be the 16th against Loyola.

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