Sept. 20, 2000

MILWAUKEE-The UWM women's soccer team opened their first conference game of the season with a flurry of goals, as the Panthers defeated UW-Green Bay, 5-2, on Wednesday at Engelmann Field. Outshooting the Phoenix 28-7, UWM raised its record to 4-4-1, while Green Bay dropped to 2-5.

The Panthers provided plenty of action from the beginning, dominating possession in Green Bay's half while creating numerous chances forward. UWM stepped hard, challenging every ball in the first half, as demonstrated when junior midfielder Erin Blaedow scored at the 14:03 mark. After a Phoenix foul, defender Stephanie Hosni took the free kick, playing it to senior Lindsey Munkwitz, who then flicked the ball through the Green Bay defense. Blaedow ran onto the splitting ball, sliding to get a shot past goalkeeper Darci White for the opening goal.

Freshman forward Lisa Bengtsson added a goal four minutes later after dribbling through three defenders to break towards the goal. Bengtsson chipped it over White from seven yards out to take the lead, 2-0.

Green Bay came back late in the half to come within a one-goal deficit. A Phoenix player struck a shot from the left side of the box over UWM goalkeeper Mary Duffy, hitting the top cross bar. Green Bay's Anne Rowe headed in the rebound to trail, 2-1, at halftime.

The Phoenix then tied the game, 2-2, early in the second half when Kristin Lau scored from seven yards out. A long ball was sent through the Panthers' defense, and Duffy came out to scoop it up with two on-coming Phoenix players challenging. The ball became loose in the hustle, and Lau sent it to the back of the open net for the equalizer.

"I was nervous in the first half," said UWM coach Michael Moynihan. "They had three shots the whole first half, and one of those was a goal. All of a sudden it's 2-1 at halftime, when we completely dominated."

UWM broke the tie when midfielder Julie Ruma scored from a couple yards out, after Munkwitx's cross was tipped by the goalkeeper. A minute later, Bengtsson carried the score to 4-2 when she ran on to a through ball sent by Blaedow, and finished with a low shot far post from 18 yards out. Late UWM sub Megan Mann capped off the Panthers' scoring spree in the 64th minute from 15 yards out, off an assist from sophomore midfielder Maggie Suminski.

"It was a great offensive outburst," said Moynihan. "We had lots of opportunities in the first half that we didn't capitalize on, so it's nice that in the second half we were able to separate ourselves with a few goals. It's great to start off the conference season with a victory."