DeKALB, Ill. - Sophomores Nick Moon and Jonathan Stadler scored second-half goals to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team to a late 2-1 comeback victory over Northern Illinois University Tuesday night at the NIU Soccer Complex.
 
"I challenged the guys at halftime," Milwaukee head coach Kris Kelderman said. "I told them we were due for a win. We have been pleased with the way we have been playing but haven't been able to grind out a result. We said 'tonight is the night, we have to do this', and I couldn't be happier. We got two great goals and we needed that. When you are playing well, but not getting results it wears on you. It affects your confidence … this is huge for our guys."
 
The offense came alive late to help the Panthers (3-5-2) to the victory over the Huskies (6-3-0) – a team ranked seventh in the NSCAA Great Lakes Regional poll this week – maintaining possession of the LeWang Trophy for the fifth year in a row.
 
"It's been sitting in my office for a good number of years and I get to bring it back," Kelderman said. "I told the guys, if we can come out and play like this in the second half (of the season) and do well, this could be a turning point in the season for us and hopefully that is the case."
 
Stadler came on as a sub in the 64^th minute and gave the Panthers a spark just over 10 minutes later on a restart. Freshman Francesco Saporito took the corner kick and the initial touch by classmate Jason Palitang Svensson traveled to the back post. Stadler was there to volley home his first goal in a Panther uniform, knotting the score at the 75:26 mark.
 
Senior goalkeeper Agustin Rey was credited with three saves on the night, none bigger than going full-out to his left on a diving effort that pushed a blast from the top of the penalty area just wide of the post in the 73^rd minute when UWM still trailed by a goal.
 
Stadler's effort gave the Panthers new life and Moon, also a second-half sub, capped the comeback with a powerful, curling strike from the left wing that cleared the goalkeeper to the far post at the 79:12 mark.
 
With two goals in less than four minutes in hand, the defense had to do the rest, grinding out the waning minutes including a final free kick from midfield after the clock was stopped with just 9.1 seconds remaining.
 
Outside of a trio of shots that produced the goal, neither team put together sustained stretches of offense in the first. The half was mainly a midfield battle that resulted in just six combined shots in the first 45 minutes. In fact, UWM was held without one until the 27^th.
 
The Panthers nearly took advantage of a 35-yard free kick in the 38^th minute to net the equalizer after NIU broke open the scoring in the 10^th minute. Saporito booted the chance to the goal front, where senior Dustin Ashley's touch redirected it on a short attempt. The ball was initially behind the NIU keeper, but he was able to scurry to the line and pick it up before it crossed.
 
The Huskies converted their only real scoring opportunity of the period at the 9:16 mark. The flurry following a corner kick resulted in the first shot going off the cross bar and the second shot being cleared off the line. The third touch was sent back to the far post and over Rey's head for the 1-0 lead.
 
For the game, Milwaukee ended up with the 10-to-8 shot advantage, trailing 5-4 in shots on target. NIU had eight of the 11 corner kicks, while UWM was whistled for 21 of the 37 fouls. Senior Declan Rodriguez led the offense with four shots. Saporito provided assists on both goals.
 
Up next, the Panthers return to Horizon League action with a road trip to Nashville, Tenn., to take on Belmont University. Game time Saturday is set for 6 p.m. CST.