MILWAUKEE – Haley Johnson scored a pair of goals and the Milwaukee women's soccer team turned on the jets in the second half to handle Eastern Illinois by a final score of 5-2 Friday evening at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The MKE Panthers (4-1) unloaded in the second half against the EIU Panthers (0-3), turning a 1-1 affair into a blowout with four goals in a span of seven minutes early in the second half.
 
Milwaukee carried a 15-to-1 shot advantage into the locker room, yet saw the scoreboard sit at 1-1 after both teams found the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes.
 
"The biggest thing we talked about was that we created chances, it was just that the finished product right at the end just wasn't there," head coach Troy Fabiano said. "We told the girls at halftime, just settle down, it's going to come. You are going to create chances; we just need to be more composed in the box."
 
From there it was all Panthers (the home-team variety), starting with a McKaela Schmelzer header off a Gaby Schwartz corner kick at the 49:39 mark.
 
Two minutes later, it was Schwartz again, this time sending in a penalty kick officially 1:57 later. That opened the floodgates for more.
 
"Again, I just think that final piece that we were missing in the first half," Fabiano said. "The kids came out and had a bunch of energy, which is great. Any time you can get everybody on the field, it's a great opportunity to play."
 
Jelena Sever tallied her third goal of the season in the 55^th minute and Johnson scored her second of the night exactly two minutes later to close out the scoring for Milwaukee.
 
EIU added a PK of its own in the 69^th minute to round out the scoresheet for the night.
 
Julia Barajas recorded assists on both Johnson goals, working a give-and-go in the fourth minute, while also using a strong solo effort to chase down a ball on the endline and center a perfect pass for Johnson to convert her fourth of the campaign at the 56:49 mark.
 
Milwaukee dominated the scoresheet, ending the evening with a 32-to-3 advantage in shots, as well as a 15-to-3 margin in shots on goal and 10 of the 11 corner kicks.
 
In all, 24 different players saw the field, which included 14 who recorded shots. Three goalkeepers also saw action, with Allie Strottman picking up the victory with 60-plus minutes of action after starting the contest. She also recorded the only save.
 
Sever pounded out seven shots (four on goal) in 39 minutes of action to lead the offense. Johnson finished with the brace on five shots, Schmelzer and Schwartz added a goal and assist and Barajas became the first Panther this season with a multi-assist outing after recording the pair.
 
Sara Teteak did make 10 saves for the visiting Panthers, keeping the game much closer then it could have been with a handful of spectacular stops. The victory extended Milwaukee's unbeaten streak at home in regular-season play to 25 games (23-0-2).
 
Milwaukee remains at home for a challenging matchup next, hosting a Butler team that is 4-1 on the season and started the week No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches East Region poll as well as receiving votes in the Top 25. Game time Sunday is set for 1 p.m.