By: Jill Wunrow (@JillWunrow)
GreenBayPhoenix.com
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - After
a tough fought battle with many close chances to score, Green Bay (1-1-) fell
1-0 against in-state opponent Marquette (2-0-0) Sunday at Aldo Santaga Stadium.
It was the first loss for the Phoenix on its home field since Sept. 16, 2011,
snapping a seven game winning streak.
"The
guys gave a tremendous effort and fought until the last minute," said head
coach Dan Popik. "This was a good weekend for us. We've been together
two-and-a-half weeks and the team has surpassed my expectations in how hard
they've worked."
In
the first period Green Bay had some great looks at the net, including in the 39th
minute when Alonso Flores (Chicago, Ill.) found Ahmad Bah (Brooklyn Park,
Minn.) in the top of the box. Bah's shot was inches to the left of the goal,
sending the Phoenix back on defense.
In
the 33rd minute, Marquette's play on its corner kick set up a shot for Eric
Pothast but it hit the bar to keep the game scoreless. The Golden Eagles had
two additional shots in the opening half hit the post as Green Bay's defense played
tough.
With
29:09 to play in the first period, Pothast scored off Marquette's free kick to
take the 1-0 advantage. Whitney Browne (Brooklyn
Park, Minn.) tried to answer for the Phoenix with 27:24 to play in the opening
period when he dribbled through three defenders and fired a shot from 30 yards out
but just missed to the left side of the goal.
Marquette
outshot Green Bay 8-6 and 4-2 on corner kicks in the opening period with both
Browne and Sam Krenzien (Wauwatosa, Wis.) leading the way with two shots each.
"I'm
glad they didn't walk off the field happy they just lost 1-0 to Marquette,"
Popik said. "Marquette is a very organized and well-coached team and we showed
we belonged on the field with them today."
Green
Bay had six shots in the second half but its closest look at the goal came with
37:51 to play when Bah broke free on the left side of the field and fired a
shot over his defender only to hit the cross bar and leave the crowd with
intense reaction.
Browne
finished the game leading all players with four shots while Bah added three and
Krenzien finished with two for the Phoenix. Senior goalkeeper Ryan Wehking (St.
Louis, Mo.) registered seven saves.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... In
case you missed Green Bay's game against Marquette, the contest will be
rebroadcast on Time Warner Cable Sports32 Monday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.
NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE... Green
Bay wraps up its three-game homestand Friday, Aug. 31 when it hosts Northern
Illinois (0-1) at 6 p.m. at Aldo Santaga Stadium.
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