Panthers Claim 3-0 Win Over Saint Louis

August 28, 2011

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Aug. 28, 2011) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer team scored three second-half goals to defeat Saint Louis, 3-0, Sunday afternoon at Engelmann Stadium and move to 4-0 on the season.

With the win, the Panthers have won their first four games of the season for the first time since 2008. They won both games of the Milwaukee Cup, taking second to co-host Marquette on goal differential. The Billikens (1-2) took fourth, while Long Beach State was third, also on goal differential.

"It was a nice finish with a couple goals in the late stage of the game," UWM head coach Michael Moynihan said. "I thought we came out fine, moved the ball okay and were a little sloppy. As the half wore on, I thought we could have created more chances with the amount of play we dominated. We changed things up a bit and I thought that made the difference."

For the second-straight Sunday, Kelly Lewers provided the game-winner for the Panthers. She ran on to a pass from fellow frosh Morgan LaPlant and finished far post from eight yards out in the 65th minute. The goal relieved the offensive pressure UWM had been building. It controlled much of the possession throughout the game, generating a number of dangerous chances.

Keara Thompson and Sarah Hagen paced Milwaukee with a combined 13 shots, finally connecting on the game's third goal in the 87th minute. Thompson sent a lofting cross into the box in the 87th minute that Hagen tracked down and headed into the goal.

Laurel Ragalie also converted a header, giving her side an insurance goal in the 83rd minute. That goal started on the foot of Makenzie Gillaspie on a free kick. Her ball went into the box, narrowly skimming the head of a Saint Louis defender, and ending at Ragalie's head.

Milwaukee outshot its opponent, 24-9, and forced all six of the games' corner kicks.

SLU had a couple of strong chances, but goalkeeperJamie Forbes earned her shutout with four saves, including a pair of big stops to keep the visitors off the board.

In the 21st minute, Emily Viviano blasted a free kick from 30 yards out off the cross bar and the Billikens got a rebound shot on frame, but Forbes made the stop to keep the game scoreless. Then, with the game already decided, Forbes made a sprawling save in the final minutes to secure the clean sheet.

Forbes' counterpart, Katie Walsh, made six saves to keep Milwaukee off the board for much of the contest.

Thompson and Hagen were named to the Milwaukee Cup All-Tournament Team and were joined byKelsey Holbert.

The Panthers return to action on the road, heading to Minneapolis for the Minnesota Gold Classic Sept. 2-4, hosted by Minnesota. UWM plays Iowa State that Friday and the host Golden Gophers Sunday.

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