UW-Milwaukee Panthers End Six Year Cold Streak Against Wisconsin Badgers

MILWAUKEE — UW-Milwaukee Panthers men’s soccer walked away with a win at home turf in Engelmann Stadium Monday Oct. 2 going head to head against UW-Madison Badgers.

With a slow start to the game, in the 75^th minute junior Vuk Latinovich got to the net with an assist from senior Evan Conway, leading to the Panthers (5-5) win over the Badgers (2-7-1).

“It was a great feeling,” Latinovich said. “It was a great ball from Conway out wide left, and I just tried to get it in a good position to finish it. There is nothing better than scoring a goal at home with the large student section like we had tonight.”

The Panther have struggled to get that win over the Badgers for the past six years. For the 2018, 2017 and 2013 seasons the games have resulted in a tie, where as the 2016, 2015 and 2014 seasons have resulted in a loss.  

“In the past Wisconsin has gotten the better of UWM,” Latinovich said. “It feels good to finally beat them and get over that hump.”

Head Coach, Kris Kelderman was proud to see his team finally get that victory they have been striving for. The team had gone through a rough patch since beating the cross-town rival Marquette University three weeks prior 2-1.

“I think we were playing well the last few games and we’ve been struggling to get a result,” said Kelderman. “Now, after playing well and we got a result I think it only builds confidence for our guys. We have a big conference game coming up on Saturday so I think this will give us a little momentum going into that one.”

The night started off wet and dreary under the stadium lights, and only got worse into a heavy rain after half time passed.

“There are moments that we just had to go out there and fight,” Kelderman said in regards to his team’s performance in the rain.

The game ended with, 16 to 8 shot advantages from the Panthers, 6 to 2 shots on goal, nine total corner kicks. Goalie, Junior Freddy Lorenzen, had his third shut out of the season.

“Every time you play an instate rival like Wisconsin it’s a big game, it’s an emotional game for everybody,” Kelderman said. “It’s just always a big victory, but more importantly, the team needed a victory and against a good team, against an in-state rival it just makes it that much nicer.”

After this victory, the team will be returning to conference play this coming weekend against the IUPUI Jaguars back at home at Engelmann Stadium.