BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Matthew Cahill got things going quickly for the Milwaukee men's soccer team, but a penalty kick in overtime let UAB escape with a 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon at BBVA Field.
 
The Panthers (2-2) and Blazers (1-3) battled it out on a very warm day, wrapping up play with temps in the mid-90's at the UAB "Soccer For A Cure Classic".
 
Cahill opened the scoring in the third minute, getting sprung free on a breakaway on a perfect pass from Henrik Fennefoss. Cahill did the rest, sprinting from midfield ahead of the pack for his second of the season at the 2:57 mark.
 
Back and forth from there, the Milwaukee defense weathered a potent UAB attack in the first half, with Freddy Lorenzen making four saves over the first 45 minutes.
 
The MKE offense pushed forward to start the second half, with Cahill forcing a save in the 51^st minute. The Blazers countered a few minutes later, finding the equalizer at the 51:12 mark.
 
Two good chances for the Panthers followed, with Fennefoss getting denied when he tried to blast a corner kick inside the right post in the 55^th minute and the UAB keeper making a very good save on a breakaway from Evan Conway in the 61^st.
 
Milwaukee had the first two chances in the extra period. Conway fired just high from the top of the 18 in the 91^st minute and Vuk Latinovich had a shot blocked in the box off a corner in the 94^th. The game was decided at the 94:59 mark on a foul in the box, with Chandler Shirley ending the game in the first OT with the PK conversion.
 
The shot count ended in UAB's favor by an 18-to-10 count (8-5 on goal), with the home team also recording 11 of the 14 corner kicks. Four different players led MKE with two shots a piece. Lorenzen finished the contest with six saves.
 
The team remains on the road and has just one game next week, opening Horizon League play at Detroit on Saturday. Kick off against the Titans is set for 6 p.m. CST.