Engelmann Stadium | Milwaukee Athletics
Engelmann Stadium | Milwaukee Athletics
Purdue Fort Wayne's men's soccer team secured a 2-0 victory over Milwaukee in their league opener at Hefner Soccer Complex. The Mastodons, now with a record of 3-2-1 and 1-0 in the Horizon League, delivered Milwaukee its first loss of the season. The Panthers' record stands at 2-1-2 and 0-1 in the league.
Shane Anderson scored both goals for Purdue Fort Wayne during the first half. Nic Diana, recently named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week, maintained his form by securing his third consecutive shutout with three saves.
Milwaukee struggled to capitalize on their opportunities after falling behind early in the match. Angel Gongora's free kick was saved, and Daiki Kumakawa's attempt was blocked shortly after. Anderson netted his second goal following a save by Daniel Ibarra that rebounded directly to him.
The Panthers came close to scoring multiple times but were thwarted by near misses and strong defensive efforts from Diana. David Cox hit the post, and Alan Lopez's shot was denied by a diving save from Diana.
In the second half, Milwaukee continued to press but failed to convert their chances into goals. Purdue Fort Wayne ended with slight advantages in shots and shots on goal while Milwaukee led in corner kicks. The match was marked by physical play resulting in numerous fouls and cards.
Milwaukee will face Wright State next Saturday for their home league opener scheduled for 1 p.m.