The Milwaukee men’s soccer team faced Marquette in a closely contested match at Valley Fields, ending in a 1-1 draw. Both teams entered the game with regional rankings, competing for the “Milwaukee Cup” for the 50th time. The Panthers (5-2-3) scored first but were unable to maintain their lead against the Golden Eagles (6-4-1), who equalized late in the game.
“The first goal always helps, obviously,” commented head coach Kris Kelderman on his team’s initial strike in the 35th minute. He noted that both teams had moments of offensive pressure and praised his team’s transition play despite missed opportunities to score additional goals. “It’s a big game, it’s an emotional game,” he added.
Alejandro Martinez and Raul Medina led early attempts for Milwaukee, but it was Mesfin Roda who finally broke through at the 34:24 mark. Following a video review, Roda’s rebound goal was confirmed after initially being ruled offside.
Milwaukee’s defense played a crucial role before halftime, with Ryan Berghauer clearing a potential Marquette goal in the 41st minute. “Our back line of defense continues to do an excellent job,” Kelderman said, expressing pride in their performance.
In the second half, Marquette dominated possession and shots on goal. They managed to score the equalizer in the 82nd minute after Milwaukee failed to clear effectively. Kelderman acknowledged Marquette’s increased pressure: “They were going to press the issue in the second half and come out with some more juice.”
Despite having chances to regain their lead, Milwaukee could not capitalize on them. Overall, Marquette held advantages in shots (16-11), shots on goal (6-3), and corner kicks (10-2), maintaining 64 percent possession throughout the match.
Next up for Milwaukee is a Horizon League matchup against Detroit Mercy on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
