ROCHESTER, Mich. - Freshman Francesco Saporito scored on a free kick in double-overtime to send the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team to a thrilling 1-0 victory over Oakland University Saturday in front of a homecoming crowd of 1,528 at Oakland Soccer Field.
 
"Very excited. I thought we played very well," Milwaukee head coach Kris Kelderman said. "Oakland is a very good soccer team. The two teams out there today played a very good brand of soccer and it was an exciting contest to watch and be a part of. Saying that, it was a well-deserved win. I firmly believe that we deserved to win that game. We had several other good chances – we hit the post twice."
 
The Panthers (2-4-1, 1-0 Horizon League) waited until late to knock off the Golden Grizzlies (3-3-0, 0-1 Horizon League), netting the golden goal at the 106:43 mark.
 
"It was a great team effort and obviously it's a big win," Kelderman said. "On the road at Oakland – last season's conference champs, the preseason favorite this year – it was just an excellent effort from my guys. I could not be more proud of the group right now. It's going to be a nice ride home."
 
Saporito stepped up to a 22-yard free kick from the top of the box, just left of center, sending the ball to the upper left corner of goal. The Oakland goalkeeper did get a hand on it – but not enough – and the celebration was on, with Saporito getting mobbed by teammates at midfield after knocking off the defending Horizon League champions in the conference opener for both teams.
 
It was another freshman who set up the winner. Classmate Tinashe Marowa carried the ball through traffic, getting fouled at the top of the box by the OU defense to create the winning chance.
 
Senior Agustin Rey recorded his first collegiate shutout as well, making the only two saves he was called on in addition to grabbing several dangerous crosses into the goal front.
 
It was a case of the third time being a charm for UWM, as the team had two other opportunities that looked to have ended the contest earlier. Sophomore Nick Moon had a last gasp at the buzzer in regulation, volleying a bouncing pass from senior Declan Rodriguez on the right wing back across goal. It made it past the diving keeper, but clanged off the left post as the clock read 89:59.
 
Marowa had the best chance in the first overtime either way after freshman Matthias Binder took a crack at the goal from about 25 yards out. Binder's attempt made it past the outstretched keeper's arms but hit the crossbar. It took an odd bounce and came back to the front of the wide open goal. Marowa was all alone with an open net but sent the hastened attempt up and over in the 98th minute. The misses proved harmless in the 107^th minute however, when Saporito buried his second goal of the young season in thrilling fashion.
 
The Panthers were outshot by a count of 14-12 on the day, but turned up the pressure after halftime. In fact, UWM accounted for eight of the final 11 combined shots after intermission.
 
Saporito had three of the shots, including a header in the 11th minute that needed a quality save. Rodriguez had two shots, featuring a near-goal on an impressive individual effort right before half in the 44th minute.
 
Just one game will be on the schedule next week as well, featuring the yearly rivalry with UIC, hosted this season by UWM. The game will be played Sunday under the lights at Engelmann Stadium, kicking off at 7 p.m.