CHICAGO, Ill. - The Milwaukee men's soccer team came roaring back from a three-goal deficit to force overtime, but a goal by Max Todd just 54 seconds into extra time sent the team to a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to UIC Saturday afternoon at Flames Field.
 
The Panthers (6-5-2, 2-2-1 Horizon League) found themselves down 3-0 against the Flames (9-3-1, 4-1-1 Horizon League) by the 34^th minute. That was the needed wake-up call for MKE, scoring twice before intermission and again just three-plus minutes into the second half to make it a new game.
 
The Flames came into play ranked No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches North Region poll this week and came out firing. UIC got on the board at the 3:53 mark before doubling that lead less than three minutes later on Todd's first goal at the 6:35 mark.
 
They weren't done there, making it 3-0 on Todd's second, sending home a free kick from the top of the circle at the 34:38 mark.
 
Down but not out, the Panthers started their comeback less than five minutes later. Off a corner kick, Nick Anguil-Andriacchi was in the right place at the right time, making it 3-1 in the 35^th minute, with Evan Conway picking up the assist.
 
Conway created the next opportunity as well, winning a ball at midfield and then finding Alex Sykes ahead of the pack. Sykes turned the 1-on-1 chance into success, netting his third goal of the season past the UIC keeper to trim the lead to one.
 
Just after halftime Milwaukee made it a new game, getting a goal from Henrik Fennefoss to pull even at 3-3 off a carom in front of goal.
 
That actually marked just the second time in program history that the team overcame a three-goal deficit to equalize, last done against Marquette in September of 2016. Only this time, Todd completed the hat trick in OT for the golden goal, sending the Panthers back home in tough fashion.
 
UIC goalie Sawyer Jackman came up huge to get his team to that point, making a brilliant save on a shot by Jackson Dryden in the 79^th minute that prevented what could have been the eventual game-winner.
 
For the game, UIC recorded advantages of 25-to-11 on shots, but MKE turned the tables in shots on goal at 8-to-7. The Flames also had eight of the 11 corner kicks in the contest. Conway led the Panthers with a trio of shot attempts; Todd finished with eight, including his fifth game-winner of the season while completing his first career hat trick.
 
Milwaukee returns to the field a week from today, welcoming Oakland to Engelmann Stadium for a game scheduled to start at 7 p.m.