Intensity and fight drive Panthers past Jaguars

On a gloomy rainy Wednesday afternoon at Laura Moynihan Field in Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers men’s soccer team comfortably defeated the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Jaguars 4-0.

UWM showed energy, intensity and fight to beat the Jaguars. They dominated the game, outshooting IUPUI 17-6. This was a much-needed victory for UWM after two consecutive losses. It also kept alive the Panthers’ hopes of making the Horizon League Tournament, which will consist of the top six seeded teams.

The UWM team played with an overwhelming amount of pressure and intensity for the first 15 minutes of the game. UWM forward Joshua Kidder was a tremendous tempo setter on the left side of the field as an attacking presence. His ferocity pushed his team forward as he peppered the penalty box with cross after cross. In the 11th minute of play Panthers got their reward as UWM forward Logan Farrington poked home the first goal of the game from an assist by Kidder off a cross from the left side.

UWM found it easy to play down the left and a lot of that can be attributed to the attacking and defensive show put on by UWM left defensive back Raul Medina. Forming a great overlapping relationship with Kidder and UWM forward Wasihun Ewnetu, when subbed in, Medina never shied away from getting forward and showcasing his passing ability, finishing the game with three assists.

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Kidder finished with one assist for the game, but his influential performance was more than just numbers on a stat line.

“It’s not always about assists and goals. Putting other people in good spots or making movements to open up opportunities for other people, so really it all comes together,” Kidder said and it was his backtracking and defensive determination that helped lead to a second goal.

In the 21st minute and with IUPUI pushing forward, Kidder and Medina launched a UWM counterattack. Led by Farrington a slick give-and-go passing move with UWM attacking midfielder Paolo Gratton put Farrington into an open space down the left side of the field. A smooth pull back from Farrington gave Gratton, positioned center in front of goal, an easy job to slot home UWM’s second goal.

“I mean he’s such a good player, it’s just easy to play with him. I think we just have a good relationship and combined with training, it’s just easy to play with him,” Kidder said speaking about the ease Medina brings when playing with him.

Medina was eventually subbed off in the 50th minute of play, job well done. Farrington and Gratton stole the show with a brace for the both of them, but it was the intensity and determination from Kidder and Medina down UWM’s attacking left that created so many opportunities.

UWM secured its third goal from a power header by Farrington in the 38th minute of play, off of a corner kick. Medina took the kick, floated it in and it almost seemed destined to meet the head of Farrington.  UWM led 3-0 at halftime.

It was early high energy, high tempo play that helped UWM take control of the game and that continued into the second half of the game. Again finding himself in the attacking third of the field, Medina latched onto a saved shot from UWM midfielder David Cox and streamed a cross in from the left where Gratton snatched his second goal of the game and UWM’s fourth.

Through much of the game IUPUI found the UWM pressure suffocating and could barely get out of their own half of the field. This came down to the control of the midfield. IUPUI midfielders could not get a hold of the ball and that is thanks to the tireless work of both UWM midfielders David Cox and Kasper Davidsson.

“The thing about those guys is they have great engines, they got great fight. They break up a lot of plays on the defensive side of things and were very sharp on the ball once we got it. Talking about a complete game, those guys had a complete game,” UWM coach coach Kris Kelderman said when speaking about the influence Cox and Davidsson had in the game.

They did the dirty work, put in needed tackles, intercepted wayward passes and made it uncomfortable for the IUPUI midfield all afternoon. Offensively they were the base for UWM’s build up play, getting the ball quickly to the feet of UWM forwards and Gratton who connected the midfield to the attacking third of the field.

Cox and Davidsson exemplified the composure and fight UWM played with and needed to keep after their fourth goal. Maintaining that high energy level, the tremendous engine room in the midfield and some strong hold up play from Farrington allowed UWM to see out their 4-0 victory over IUPUI and obtain that clean sheet for their defense.

“We were in a must win situation today and the guys knew that,” Keldermen said. “I think the personalities of our team, individually, the way they play their best is it’s high energy. We had to take control of the game from minute one and they understood that and it showed.”

UWM improves its to 4-4 and moved into fifth place in the Horizon League. They travel to Green Bay next to battle in-state rivals the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix on Tuesday March 30.