HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Taylor Hattori scored in the 66^th minute and the defense posted its eighth shutout of the season to send the Milwaukee women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Northern Kentucky, clinching its fourth Horizon League regular-season title in a row in the process.
 
The Panthers (14-1, 8-0 Horizon League) topped the Norse (9-5-1, 5-2-1 Horizon League) Saturday afternoon at NKU Soccer Complex, extending their unbeaten streak in regular-season conference play to 24 games (22-0-2).
 
"NKU is a well-coached, athletic and dangerous team," head coach Troy Fabiano said. "We placed an emphasis on team defending and it showed today. Our entire team played with tremendous focus and energy."
 
Hattori had just stepped onto the field for the first time as a second-half substitution, picking the perfect time for her first goal of the fall.
 
Right off the bench she made a run to the goal when the ball was put back in play, one-touching a perfect pass from Mackenzie Schill with her left foot to the far post and into the back of the net at the 65:44 mark.
 
"One of our strengths all year has been our depth and for Taylor and Schill to come through in a big moment is a testament to that," Fabiano said.
 
Schill did the hard work, taking a throw-in from the sidelines before making a turn and heading to goal. She kept possession away from a pair of defenders before sending the perfect pass to Hattori for the winner.
 
The league title is the fourth in four seasons for Fabiano, who has now posted a 31-1-3 record in his time at Milwaukee during regular-season conference action.
 
The goal put a nice exclamation point on a day where scoring opportunities were hard to come by for either team. All told, just six shots were put on target, with Milwaukee closing out the day with a 9-to-8 advantage in overall shots on the afternoon.
 
Elaina LaMacchia posted her sixth shutout of the season. She was credited with two saves, one that came early (third minute) and the other on a short-hop from distance saved easily in the 63rrd minute.
 
The MKE offense had a couple of other dangerous opportunities. Lourdes Onwuemeka had one midway through the first half, one-timing a serve from Rachel Phillpotts right in front of goal, only to be denied by the charging NKU keeper.
 
The other two came just before the goal. Jelena Sever and Haley Johnson started the buildup that led to a crack from 25 yards by McKaela Schmelzer, which was denied with a diving stop at the post. On the next possession, Onwuemeka fed a wide-open Schill in the box, who took a touch and cracked one at the goal only to see it punched away at the line.
 
Johnson and Schill were the only players to record more than one shot, each ending the day with two.
 
The Panthers return home to enjoy the title, welcoming Cleveland State Friday with a chance to post a perfect 9-0 league mark. The contest, which is set to kickoff at 7 p.m., will also include "Senior Night" recognition before the game.