Panthers dominate the Raiders to extend streak

Through ten games did anyone expect the Milwaukee Panthers to be undefeated? While everyone knew they were going to be a team to keep your eye on, no one could have expected this incredible start to the season. It was a wet and an overcast night at Engelmann Stadium, but neither the weather nor Wright State could stop Milwaukee. The Panthers won easily by a score of 3-0 as they improved their record to 9-0-1 and 2-0 in conference.

“Before the game we talked about wanting to play quality soccer. With the rain pouring and everything like that, it was going to be one of those games where you just have to roll up your sleeves and battle sometimes,” said head coach Kris Kelderman. “The game got a little chippy at moments, but I thought we played really well in certain spots.”

The Panthers came out strong, and did not let the weather affect them one bit. In the fifth minute, the Panthers jumped out to the early lead with a goal from Robbie Boyd assisted by Laurie Bell and Luke Goodnetter.

“We love playing out here when it’s wet,” said captain Laurie Bell. “We can play really good soccer. It is really exciting.”

The Panthers were unable to add to their score the remainder of the first half, but even when they are not scoring it is still a fun offense to watch. They had 10 shots in the first half, and were close to adding onto their total multiple times.

Once the second half begun the rain had stopped, and the Panthers continued to remain hot. In the 59th minute Rami Younes found the back of the net for his third goal of the season, after receiving the ball off of a long goal kick by Liam Anderson.

In the 68th minute the Panthers added another goal. After a diving stop was made by the Raiders’ goalie, Kostas Kotselas got the ball and passed it to Boyd. He then passed it to Bell, who found the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season.

“It is really nice, we have had goals coming from everywhere,” said Bell. “Good teams, have a lot of people who can score goals.”

The Panthers offense this season has done an excellent job of getting many players involved, and tonight was a perfect example of that. Bell, Boyd and Younes all scored, and the offense as a whole had 22 total shots with 10 of them being on goal. Not only did the offense do well, but also Liam Anderson and the defense recorded the fifth shutout of the season for the Panthers.

“The one thing that we have been pretty proud of is our balance,” Kelderman said. “The defense has been really strong and had another shutout and offensively, I think we collected over 20 shots, it’s promising and exciting.”

It has been an exciting year for Milwaukee soccer and tonight was a perfect example of that. Even though the conditions were rough, the Panthers continued to play well and won the game. While the Panthers are now undefeated through 10 games, according to Bell, the only pressure on them to continue to win is the pressure they place on themselves.

“As long as we bring our ‘A’ game, to every game in this league, we should get the victory,” said Bell.

The Panthers will need to bring their “A” game this week, as they have a short two day break until the face in-state rival Green Bay for the Chancellor’s Cup on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Engelmann Stadium. This will be a fun and exciting matchup at home for the Panthers, and if they can play like they did tonight, they will be a tough team to beat.