Men's Soccer Visits Wis.-Milwaukee on Wednesday

Sept. 12, 2006

MILWAUKEE -

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The Marquette men's soccer team looks to rebound from a four-match losing streak with a visit to crosstown foe Wis.-Milwaukee at Engelmann Field at 7 p.m. The meeting is the first regular season return for Marquette head coach Louis Bennett, who spent 10 years as the head coach of the Panthers. Marquette visited UWM in the spring exhibition season and came away victorious.

"In the spring, both teams were experimenting," Bennett said. "This time it will be a different type of game."

The Golden Eagles are coming off what has to be figured as their best played game of the season so far. Marquette created chances and looked dangerous for most of its contest with nationally-ranked USF. The Golden Eagles took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Matt Blouin, but USF responded with a pair of sensational goals over a two minute period to take the lead.

Marquette takes its offensive momentum into Engelmann Field to combine it with the emotion of playing one of the most familiar opponents on the schedule.

Despite the pressure of playing for local bragging rights and playing with a losing streak, Bennett said that this game shouldn't have the pressure of MU's following contests.

"It's a vital game. You always want to be on the winning side of any game, but this game isn't as vital as a game in the BIG EAST," Bennett said.

Marquette has started the year 0-2 in BIG EAST play, but Bennett said he's becoming more familiar with how difficult the league is each day.

"Every game we play, I become more and more aware of what's going on in the BIG EAST," he said.

However, the traveling Milwaukee Cup trophy does await the winner and Bennett said he'd like to continue to win the trophy, like he has five times in the last 10 years.

"I got very familiar with having that on my desk and I'd like to keep it on my desk," Bennett added. "Don't think that this game should mean more than another, but I would really like to keep shining the trophy in my office for another year."

Marquette comes into the game with a change at the center forward position. Freshman Michael Greene earned his first career start against USF just two games after making his collegiate debut. He provided excitement at the forward spot for Marquette. He also took some of the pressure off Blouin, MU's goal scorer against USF.

"It's good to have (Greene) on the field," Bennett said. "He gives us an option that defenses can't avoid and he gives Blouin space and time to create."

The Golden Eagles have been changing the lineup from game to game pending on how individuals have been performing in games and in practice. MU made a change at keeper in the second half of the USF game. Determining the starter at keeper -- freshman Matt Pyzdrowski or senior Marc Dettmann -- as well as other starting spots on the field will be a decision that comes down to the last minute.

"We have to look and see what UWM is going to bring and make lineup changes as we need," Bennett said. "Some of our changes will be performance based. Whomever is playing well at the time will be in the starting lineup."

Marquette has a long and storied tradition with UWM. The two teams have played 33 times, with the series starting in 1973. The Golden Eagles have only won seven of the 33 meetings, but have been successful in recent history, winning four of the last seven.

Last season's contest was schedule and rescheduled a number of times after Marquette had to cancel a BIG EAST game against Providence due to heavy rains on the east coast. Ultimately, the game went on as scheduled and the Panthers were victorious, 4-0.

Jon Coleman, an assistant under Bennett at UWM, took over as head coach upon Bennett's hiring at Marquette. Coleman, a former UWM player, has started 2-4 on the season, playing a very difficult schedule. UWM started the season with a close contest against now no. 1 SMU, losing 1-0. The Panthers also took no. 6 Washington to overtime, before losing 2-1. UWM comes into the week after the loss to Washington and to nationally ranked Creighton, 1-0.

Three Panthers have two goals on the season. Steve Sperl, Colin Baker and Martin Castro have struck twice for UWM. Grant Fernstrum, last season's national goals against average leader, has allowed seven goals on the year and has made 28 saves.

Game time is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at Engelmann Field and is the first night game played at UWM. The UWM ticket office is selling advanced tickets to the game at the UWM ticket office until 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

The first 100 students will receive a free ticket and transportation to Engelmann Field. Buses will leave the Annex at 5 p.m.