[media-credit name=’GREG DIXON/Herald file photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]

If the Wisconsin men’s soccer team was looking to make a statement Wednesday night against the UW-Milwaukee Panthers, they certainly made one. Just three minutes into the game, the Badgers tacked on their first goal en route to a 4-0 victory. In fact, all of Wisconsin’s goals were scored in the first 35 minutes of the game.

The offensive output was especially vindicating for the Badgers, as goals have been hard for the team to come by.

“I think it was important for us to not only play well, but to be able to score some goals,” head coach Jeff Rohrman said. “I feel honestly we’ve been playing this well for two weeks.”

The offensive attack started early when freshman midfielder Colin Monasterio drilled a one timer past Panther goaltender Grant Fernstrum. After racing down the left sideline, Kenny Dix’s cross pass allowed Monasterio up to nail the shot before Fernstrum was set.

Just nine minutes later, the Badgers were on the attack again, when UWM’s Travis Phillips received a foul call. With a direct free kick just outside the 18-yard line, junior striker Scott Lorenz’s shot found the top right corner of the net. With such a perfectly placed kick, Fernstrum made no attempt to block the shot as it flew just below the crossbar.

“Having scored in the past two games, we wanted to come out tonight and at least put a couple in the back of the net,” Lorenz said. “I took the opportunity well and made the most of it.”

Before UWM was able to even record its first shot on goalie Alex Horwath, Wisconsin scored their third goal of the game in the 16th minute. After an aggressive attack set up a corner kick on the left side, freshman Austin Spohn’s cross pass found sophomore defenseman Cale Cooper on the right post. Anticipating Fernstrum’s reaction, Cooper was able to head the ball past Fernstrum’s right arm.

The first half was a long one for Fernstrum, who also injured himself defending a corner kick from the right side. As several players went up to head a ball in the air, Fernstrum landed awkwardly and lay on the ground for an extensive period. However, his return to the game did not go as well as expected. In the 35th minute of the first half, Lorenz tacked on his second goal of the game, rolling a shot just past a diving Fernstrum.

With a 4-0 lead heading into the half, the Badgers cruised through the second half and held on to shut out the Panthers. Although UWM’s aggressive play in the second half created some scoring opportunities, Horwath had an answer to every Panther shot. “I heard him the whole game taking command, having the presence we expect from Alex,” Rohrman said. “We are going to lean a lot on him the next couple weeks or so, so I expect the same performance from him on Sunday.”