| October 16, 2012
UNBEATEN IN FIVE
Panthers defeat Nebraska-Omaha
MILWAUKEE - Freshman Aaron Horvat scored one goal and assisted on the other to help the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claim a 2-0 victory over the University of Nebraska-Omaha Tuesday at Engelmann Stadium.
The Panthers (7-4-2) extended several streaks with the shutout of the Mavericks (4-8-1), improving to 5-0 at home in 2012 while also running their overall unbeaten streak to five (3-0-2) as well.
"We were excited to play at home again and we knew that Omaha was going to be a tough match," UWM head coach Kris Kelderman said. "We got off to a really good start with two goals in the first half and created a couple of more chances in the second half. It was a pretty good performance overall."
Horvat tallied the eventual game-winner in the 17th minute and then had an assist on sophomore Laurie Bell's strike in the 36th minute to help Milwaukee build a 2-0 lead by halftime.
UNO goalkeeper Josh Christensen made nine saves – including several spectacular stops.
Freshman Connor Revsbeck only needed to make two saves in net for the Panthers, but it was enough to give him back-to-back shutouts in his first two collegiate starts.
"The defense has been pretty solid," Kelderman said. "To have a couple of shutouts against the teams we have played has been promising."
The Panthers came out firing and put on the early pressure, taking six of the first seven shots of the day. Junior Robbie Boyd created the first goal. After dribbling through a pair of defenders to create some space, his shot was knocked away with a diving effort, only to be punched towards the waiting Horvat, who headed the ball in easily in the 17th minute.
It was Horvat again looking to score, but had back-to-back close-range efforts knocked away by Christensen in the six-yard box. The second went right to Bell, who finished nicely for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Bell and Horvat could have easily had a second goal each, but Christensen managed impressive saves at the post against Bell in the 42nd minute and Horvat in the 71st.
In getting to seven wins (7-4-2), UWM has its most victories in a single season since recording eight in 2006. The five-straight wins at home is a first since October of 2004 and the five-game unbeaten streak overall (3-0-2) is the best since a six-game run (4-0-2) in late 2007.
Milwaukee is at Cleveland State next, hitting the road Saturday in a game that will get underway at 6 p.m. CST.
|
