Aug. 25, 2006

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

TULSA, Okla. - Tulsa University scored twice in the second half to break open a close game on Friday night, handing the 24th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team a 3-0 loss at the Golden Hurricane Classic. The contest was the first of the season for both teams and the first game for new UWM head coach Jon Coleman.

"This was a tough one," Coleman said. "But, we let Tulsa come out and play. When you let a team like this play, they are going to take advantage of opportunities."

Down 1-0 at the half, the Panthers were unable to take charge in the second. The Hurricane regained the momentum immediately, scoring just 51 seconds into the frame on a 40-yard shot by Eric Defreitas from the right sideline that appeared to catch the Panthers off-guard.

"They played quickly on a set piece situation and caught us a bit off-guard," Coleman said. "I don't know if Ferny (UWM goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum) lost it or thought it was going wide but it was a great shot. They played fast and we just weren't ready."

UWM pushed forward in the final 15 minutes and created one of its best chances offensively. Junior Zeke Dombrowski nearly out the Panthers on the board with 10:45 remaining, sending a 20-yard blast off the crossbar from the top of the box.

Unfortunately for Milwaukee, it was the closest they would get. As a result, the Panthers start the season with a loss for the first time since the 2002 campaign.

"We will have to learn from this and move on," Coleman said. "We have a big game Sunday and need to be prepared. This team [UWM] can play ... I have no doubt about that."

The offense could never find any consistent flow in the game, as it was outshot by a 20-to-seven count, including nine-to-three in shots on target.

UWM's best opportunity in the first half occurred with 10 minutes left. It was Dombrowski again who started the play, feeding freshman Josh Curry at the top of the box. Curry left a perfect pass to junior Troy Spielmann who was streaking towards the goal. Spielmann ripped a shot from about 18 yards out, but was off target wide-left.

Tulsa broke the scoreless deadlock at the 27:27 mark. Eric Burkholder was in the right place at the right time, putting in a rebound past sophomore Grant Fernstrum, who had little, if any, time to react to the shot.

Fernstrum ended with six saves, many of the highlight variety. With 22 minutes left, he kept Tulsa off the scoreboard twice in a 1:32 span, stopping point-blank shots by Steffen Canty and a six-yard straight-on blast off the foot of Jose Parada.

The Hurricane's Andy Aguilar came up with three saves to earn the shutout win. Tulsa also won the corner kick count five-to-four and was whistled for 19 of the 37 fouls.

Milwaukee will be right back at it on Sunday, taking on No. 2 SMU in a game scheduled for a noon start. The Mustangs started the season with a 1-0 overtime win over the Wisconsin Badgers in the first game of the day.