Panthers Open Season With 0-0 Draw at Akron

August 18, 2017

AKRON, Ohio - Mallory Geurts recorded six saves and the Milwaukee women's soccer team dominated the night on offense, but could not break through for a goal in settling for a 0-0 shutout of Akron Friday night at Cub Cadet Field in the 2017 season opener.
 
The Panthers (0-0-1) had plenty of opportunities against the Zips (0-0-1), including a ball off the post with just five seconds left in regulation and another early in the game.
 
On the night, Milwaukee got off 22 shots – including nine on goal – but Aubrey Krahn's last-second effort hit the post at 89:55 and the game went to overtime.
 
In the extra sessions, Anna Smalley and McKenna Stratton fired off shots in the first overtime, with Smalley just high and Stratton forcing a save. That was all in the first 10 minutes.
 
In double-OT, the UWM defense was up to the task, with Geurts making a save just 33 seconds in. Following a shot and save off the foot of Lourdes Onwuemeka, The Zips went on the offensive. The Panthers fended off three corner kicks in less than a minute's time on the clock and got a timely team save to keep it scoreless.
 
Mackenzie Schill tested the Akron keeper in the 118th and Geurts made one more stop in the 119th minute to preserve the clean sheet.
 
Onwuemeka also caught an unlucky bounce of the ball early in the contest, sending one off the post at the 3:18 mark. She nearly had another in the 16th minute, but an impressive diving stop kept the game scoreless.
 
UWM had nine of the 14 shots at intermission. Geurts came up big in the 55th minute with an impressive stop as well.
 
For the game, UWM ended the night with a 22-16 advantage in total shots (9-7 on goal) and also posted 15 corner kicks to Akron's seven. Amani Jiu ended the evening with nine saves for Akron. Onwuemeka posted a game and career-high seven shots to pace the UWM offense, with McKaela Schmelzer close behind with five – which was also a career-best.
 
Up next, the team heads to Pennsylvania to take on Robert Morris Sunday. Game time is set for 11 a.m. CST.

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