Milwaukee City Wire

The Milwaukee men's soccer team is set to host two matches at Engelmann Stadium in October, facing Drake and Oakland. The non-conference game against Drake will take place on Tuesday at 5 p.m., followed by a conference match against Oakland on Saturday at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcasted on ESPN+ with commentary from Matt Menzl, and live statistics are available via the Milwaukee website. Saturday's event will also feature "Alumni Day," "Bark in the Park," and a Bandana Giveaway promotion for fans bringing their pets.

Historically, Milwaukee holds a 9-3-3 record against Drake, dating back to 1990. Recent meetings have been closely contested, with the last encounter ending in a 1-1 draw in September 2022. Against Oakland, Milwaukee has an all-time record of 11-8-3 since their first meeting in 1973. Recent matches have seen intense contests, including shootouts.

Drake has shown improvement this season after a challenging previous year. Under third-year head coach Pat Flinn, the Bulldogs currently stand at 6-2-1 overall and have gone unbeaten in their last six matches. Key players include Jackson Kirsch, Brennan Rzewuski, and Damian Segura.

Oakland was predicted to lead the Horizon League this season following an appearance in last year's tournament championship game. With Paul Doroh as head coach since April 2024, they hold a record of 3-4-2 overall this week.

The Panthers recently claimed victory over Northern Illinois to secure the "LeWang Cup" and look forward to their upcoming trophy contest against Marquette for the "Milwaukee Cup" on October 8.

Alejandro Martinez has made an impact early this season for Milwaukee with multiple goals and was named Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week after notable performances. Raul Medina continues his strong playmaking form with three assists against Bradley earlier this season.

The team started its campaign positively with two wins and two draws from four games—its best start since 2013 when it opened with nine victories.

Milwaukee's roster features new faces along with experienced returners who accounted for significant contributions last season. International players add diversity to the team composition from various countries including France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Scotland, Spain, Cayman Islands, and Wales.

The Panthers continue their pursuit of success while building on home field advantages where they have historically excelled under head coach Kris Kelderman’s tenure.