The UW-Milwaukee men’s soccer team won a nailbiter after Alan Lopez scored a clutch goal late in Tuesday night’s game against Drake at Engelmann Stadium.
With the win, Milwaukee is now 4-2-3 overall while 0-2-1 within the Horizon League. They won just four matches in 2023.
Panthers goalkeeper Daniel Ibarra was called upon early, smothering a chance within the first three minutes. Minutes later, he denied a dangerous shot directly off a corner from midfielder Jackson Kirsch, punching it over the goal.
With the intensity picking up, the Panthers hoped to capitalize on a counterattack. They did so after a fight for possession within their own penalty area in the 24th minute. Bienvenu Djunga created space in the middle of the field and sprung forward Asher Ozuzu on a beautiful through ball. The sophomore outran the keeper and found the goal, giving Milwaukee the lead.
Drake came back fighting, looking to even the match before halftime.
Ibarrez denied a dangerous chance in the 41st minute but Drake was awarded the corner. While he punched away the set piece, there was nothing Ibarrez could do on the rebound as Kai Knuchel rifled in the rebound on a volley to even things.
The game went into halftime deadlocked at one apiece.
Drake had a strong start to the second half, hemming Milwaukee into their own zone. The all-freshman defense would not budge, however.
“The guys bunkered in and played good team defense, stayed compact,” said head coach Kris Kelderman. “They had some quickness on the flanks, and the overall team defense was very good from start to finish.”
The game turned into a battle for possession with neither team giving much.
The Panthers had a great look in the 74th minute after Alejandro Martinez fed Mesfin Roda inside the eighteen, but the play was called offside.
Roda would have his chance seven minutes later, firing a long range shot that was blocked by the goalkeeper. The super sub-Lopez was quick on the rebound however, gathering and firing home what would prove to be the game-winning goal.
It was a special goal for the senior, with his family there to witness it and even getting the chance to celebrate with his baby daughter.
“There have been games this year where we struggle to get that finishing touch in the final third,” said Lopez. “We did that a lot better today. We had a good opponent and so we played with all our hearts and it got us the win here.”
The Panthers will enter this weekend’s contest against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on a high note, with Lopez saying the team needs “all the momentum we can get” as they seek their first league win.
The Golden Grizzlies are currently 3-4-2. They come to Milwaukee drawing in their last two matches. Both teams will be seeking a vital three points to gain ground within the Horizon League. The matinee matchup will begin at 2 p.m. on October 5 at Engelmann Stadium.