MILWAUKEE - Anna Smalley scored just 35 seconds into the second half to give the Milwaukee women's soccer team the lead, but Marquette found the equalizer in the 89^th minute to force overtime in a contest that finished in a 1-1 tie Friday evening at Valley Fields.
 
The Panthers (3-2-2) held the 1-0 advantage until the final minutes, only to see the Golden Eagles (2-3-2) find a way to force overtime with just 1:41 left in regulation.
 
"Unfortunately for us, we gave up the goal late," Milwaukee head coach Troy Fabiano said. "We defended a lot, which we have to work on as a staff and a group that we don't need to panic. We need to go get that second goal instead of bunkering in and trying to hold off pressure."
 
Milwaukee did not allow the momentum to get away, holding steady throughout the extra 20 minutes to leave with a well-earned draw.
 
 "I still think the goal that we gave up was an error on ourselves," Fabiano said. "We didn't pressure the ball. We didn't clear it the first time and then she pounces on the opportunity and puts the ball in the back of the net – and that's college soccer. I do give the team credit. Giving up that goal that late, they responded in the overtimes and didn't fold the tents up and still got a point."
 
The start of the second half began with a bang for UWM, with Maria Stephans finding Smalley streaking down the left wing. She took a few dribbles to open up some room around the defense and fired back to the far post to make it 1-0 at the 45:35 mark with her second of the season.
 
The Panthers spent a good portion of the remaining time looking for an insurance goal that would, unfortunately, not come.
 
Callie O'Donnell took a chance in the 64^th minute, trying to chip the keeper from distance, nearly getting it over her head after she was still well off her line.
 
Goalkeeper Mallory Geurts made the stop of the night just three minutes later, punching a close-range header up and over the bar with a brilliant reaction to keep it 1-0 at the time.
 
Ashely Burkhardt also nearly put the game away in the 79^th minute, sending an attempt to the far post just inches wide. Milwaukee's final quality chance of the evening came with just over four minutes remaining, but McKaela Schmelzer's header on a Stephans free kick popped up and over the cross bar.
 
Marquette pressed and pressed the second half, but the Milwaukee defense held tight. The Golden Eagles finished the night with an 18-to-8 advantage in shots – including eight in the second half – finally finding a way to score after UWM had fended off a slew of corner kicks.
 
With time winding down, a ball sent out near midfield was played back into the box, with Molly Pfeiffer turning and volleying the tying goal past the keeper at the 88:19 mark.
 
Overtime did not present any dangerous opportunities for the Panthers to capitalize, with Marquette finishing with all three attempts – all off target – in the overtime sessions.
 
The teams totaled 10 shots in a back-and-forth first period, with seven coming from the home team. Geurts needed to make just one easy save to keep the game scoreless.
 
The first 20 minutes was spent getting a feel for each other. The Panthers had a couple of dangerous opportunities but could not connect on anything, settling for just an easy save on a shot from distance by O'Donnell and a blast to the post from Schmelzer.
 
The UWM offense forced some key stops on crosses and service into the front of goal, finally getting a decent chance in the 42^nd minute when Marissa Stovring got free on a pass from Stephans over the back line. With the defense closing in on Stovring, the shot from about 20 yards was saved.
 
Marquette spent most of first half playing long balls, but nothing much in terms of quality got past the backline of the UWM defense.
 
In addition to the shot advantage, Marquette earned eight of the 10 corner kicks on the night and was whistled for nine of the 19 fouls. O'Donnell paced the UWM offense with three shots, with Geurts finishing with two saves.
 
The team will be off Saturday before returning to campus to welcome Iowa State. Game time against the Cyclones is set for 12 p.m. Sunday. The contest will also feature free admission for all local area First Responders.