Nov. 6, 2001

MILWAUKEE -- The No. 16 UWM men's soccer team (16-3, 7-0 Horizon) begins post-season action when it hosts Cleveland State in a Horizon League Tournament Quarterfinal match on Sat., Nov. 10, at 12 p.m. The Panthers are the top seed in the tournament after winning the regular-season league championship with an undefeated record. Because it is a Horizon League tournament match, tickets are $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for students and seniors and $1.00 for children under 12 and may be purchased upon entering Engelmann Field. Contact the UWM Ticket Office at (414)229-2465 for details.

The top four seeds in the Horizon League host quarterfinal matches, with the highest remaining seed following that round to host the semifinals and championship the next weekend, Nov. 16-17. A win over Cleveland State on Saturday would allow UWM to host the the remainder of the tournament.

Milwaukee overcame an early two-goal deficit to defeat UIC, 3-2, Saturday afternoon at Engelmann Field. The Panthers ended the regular season undefeated at home with an 8-0 record, while also claiming an undefeated record in the league for the first time since 1993.

The win elevated the Panthers to a No. 16 ranking in the NSCAA national poll, while moving to the No. 2 slot in the Great Lakes Regional rankings.

Winless in league play this season, Cleveland State (3-14-0, 0-7 Horizon) snapped a nine-game losing streak on Oct. 31 when it defeated IPFW, 1-0, in overtime. The Vikings have not scored a goal in the league tournament since 1997.

Horizon League Tournament Bracket

In other quarterfinal play on Nov. 10, fourth-seeded Wright State (11-6-1, 4-3) will host fifth-seeded Green Bay (4-9-3, 2-3-2) in game two, third-seeded UIC (10-5-1, 4-2-1) will host sixth-seeded Loyola (6-9-2, 3-4) in game three and second-seeded Butler (8-8, 5-2) will host seventh-seeded Detroit (7-7-4, 1-5-1) in game four. The times of those games are yet to be announced.

A win in its quarterfinal game would allow UWM to play the winner of game two in the semifinals on Nov. 16. The winner of game three will play the winner of game four in the other semifinal matchup on Nov. 16. The championship game will be played on Nov. 17.

UWM Recap

* UIC coverted a penalty kick in the second minute and scored a goal ten minutes later to take the early 2-0 lead. But an Ian Hoelker goal in the 42nd minute off an assist from Kyle Lance capitalized on UWM's momentum and put the Panthers on the board at halftime. Ryan Seymour scored his 15th goal of the season in the 61st minute off a double assist from Chad Dombrowski and Kevin Roethe. Seymour then assisted with Evan Richardson on Marc Pehowski's gamewinner in the 65th minute that put UWM up, 3-2.

* The Panthers outshot UIC, 23-8, and held them to just three shots in the second half. UWM also took the advantage on corner kicks, 13-2. UIC won the tournament championship last year and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

UWM (16-3, 7-0 Horizon) Game Notes

* With their win over UIC last weekend, the Panthers tied a school record for most wins in a season (16). The record was originially set in 1990, when UWM went 16-4-2 under head coach Brian Tompkins. UWM's 16 wins are also tied for the most wins in the nation this season, as No. 1 Southern Methodist is 16-0 on the season.

* Goalkeepers Chris Dadaian and Brad Swenby had been battling close for the starting spot in front of the net for UWM, but Dadaian has started the past seven matches and has a 12-2 record on the season. Dadaian leads the league with five shutouts and also has a 1.18 GAA, which ranks fifth in the league. Swenby has started five times and played in six games, compiling a 4-1 record on the season and 0.86 GAA, which is second in the league.

* Ryan Seymour leads UWM in scoring with 39 points on 15 goals and nine assists. Seymour leads the league in points, shots (81), gamewinning goals (4) and is second in goals (15). Kyle Lance leads the league in assists (11), and is second on team scoring with 21 points (5g, 11a). Defender Chad Dombrowski (6g, 5a) is third on the team with 16 points, while Antou Jallow (8g) is fourth. Jallow, who has missed the past seven games after a knee injury on Oct. 9, still ranks sixth in the league in goals and is second in gamewinning goals (3) behind Seymour.

* According to the Horizon League release last week, UWM leads the league in most major team statistical categories, including shots, points, goals, goals allowed and shutouts, and is tied for the lead in assists.

Cleveland State (3-14, 0-7 Horizon) Game Notes

* The Vikings are coming off their first win in the past nine games after beating IPFW at home, 1-0, in double overtime.

* Cleveland State has been outscored 35-15. Cleveland State has been shut out eight times this season, but most of CSU's scores have come by way of one or two goal differentials. Against ranked opponents, Cleveland State lost by only 1-0 scores (No. 19 Ohio State and No. 16 UWM).

* Joachim Walker leads the Vikings in scoring with 15 points (7g, 1a), while Misha Levkov is second on the team with five points (2g, 1a).

* James Kryger has seen the most time for CSU in goal, playing 1260 minutes in 15 games. Kryger has a 2.00 GAA and a 2-12 record, making 77 saves while allowing 28 goals. Josip Novkovic has played 322 minutes in three games, recording a 1.95 GAA and a 1-2 record.

* Cleveland State is the eighth seed in the league tournament for the fourth straight year. The Vikings haven't scored a goal in the past four tournament games, and is 2-6 all-time in the league tournament.

* This season marks the first time CSU has failed to win at least one league contest.

UWM Series Against Cleveland State

* The Panthers beat CSU, 1-0, during the regular season on Oct. 21. Ryan Seymour connected on a Kyle Lance cross to give UWM the win on the road.

* UWM leads the series history, 14-12-2. Milwaukee has won the past nine meetings, while the last six games have come by way of a one-goal difference. The series is tied 6-6-1 when games are played at Engelmann Field. UWM beat CSU, 2-1, in their last match at home in 1999.

Scoring First Leads To Wins

* A growing trend with the 2001 Panthers is scoring first. Thirteen of Milwaukee's 19 games have seen the Panthers take the initial lead, and UWM has won every one of those games. UWM has won three games after failing to score first this season, including Saturday's match with UIC. UWM's three losses on the season have come when the Panthers failed to score first. Southwest Missouri State beat UWM, 2-1, Bowling Green scored the golden goal in overtime to knock off the Panthers, 1-0, and Akron used a penalty kick with 22 seconds left to defeat Milwaukee, 3-2.

Moving Up In Records Book

After recording three straight shutouts and his fifth of the season against Northern Illinois, junior goalkeeper Chris Dadaian ranks ninth in career shutouts with 12 and ranks fifth in career wins with 25. His senior year still remaining, Dadaian needs just seven more shutouts to tie the career record of 19 shutouts held by PJ Johns. Paul Royal holds the career record in wins with 40.

Dadaian's record so far this season rests at 12-2, putting him in a tie for sixth place on UWM's single-season win leaderboard. Dadaian is tied with Paul Royal's 1993 win total. Jon Mroz holds the record with 15 wins from 1990, while three players hold second place with 13 wins.

Sweeping The State

UWM stands at top of the Wisconsin universities after posting wins over Marquette (2-1), Wisconsin (3-1) and Green Bay (2-1 OT) this season. The last time the Panthers swept all three state opponents was in 1991 under former head coach Brian Tompkins. The Panthers then defeated Green Bay, 3-1, Wisconsin, 2-0, and Marquette, 2-1, in overtime.

Possessing All Three Cups

UWM has a tradition of playing annual cup games during the season. Milwaukee currently has possession of the Milwaukee Cup, won 2-1 against city-rival Marquette, and also the Chancellor's Cup with a 2-1 win against state-rival Green Bay. Milwaukee captured its final cup when it hosted Northern Illinois for the John Lewang Memorial Cup on Nov. 17 and won 3-0. The last time UWM retained all three trophies was in 1996.

Head Coach Louis Bennett

Louis Bennett, a native of Great Britain, is in his sixth season at the helm of the Panthers. After the win over UIC this past weekend, he posts a 71-44-7 record overall at UWM, including a 29-9-5 record in league play.

* Bennett was named MCC Coach of the Year in 1997 after leading the Panthers to the regular season conference crown and to the tournament championship game.