Sept. 5, 2006

Box Score | Highlights

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Marquette suffered a 2-0 loss at Wis.-Green Bay in its final non-conference test before BIG EAST play begins. The Golden Eagles (1-2-1) were backed into a corner early when UWGB (2-2) scored just 42 seconds into the match.

The Phoenix took the lead in the first minute when Joshua Okoampa took advantage of a Marquette defensive miscue on an assist from Francois Basty. A Green Bay cross was misplayed by sophomore midfielder Duncan Silvert-Noftle allowing Basty to collect and feed Okoampa for an easy strike, his third of the season.

In the 30th minute, Marquette was dealt a significant blow when senior defender Bryan Dahlquist was issued a red card on a foul he committed on UWGB's David Znaty.

A second defensive error led to the Phoenix's second goal of the game in the 35th minute. Freshman defender Billy Von Rueden couldn't collect a back pass that Basty intercepted and put on goal. MU freshman keeper Matt Pyzdrowski stopped the initial effort, but Tosaint Ricketts collected the rebound and scored for his second goal of the season.

Marquette settled after that goal and created some chances, however, playing down a man created difficulty for MU to execute the game plan and run forward with effectiveness.

"We couldn't attack with the numbers we wanted to," Bennett said. "We were limited in the amount of time we could go forward and that reduced the amount of opportunities we had."

Despite playing down a man, Marquette allowed just four second half shots to Green Bay and MU was able to take seven shots of its own in the contest.

"As a unit, we played well with our structure and how we attacked and defended," Bennett said. "As far as Xs and Os go, we're getting closer. We now have to show our players that we have to maintain a focus all the time. You can't have a good big picture game and have the details go wrong and expect to win too often."

"We could have felt sorry for ourselves, but we didn't," Bennett added. "We took on some licks early, but we came back and played hard."

Marquette had more options in terms of players against Green Bay, having senior midfielder Matt Soper in the lineup for the first time this season and freshman defender Tim Jallow played 45 minutes, giving a spark to the team in the second half.

"I take no consolation in a loss, but we showed character in the second half creating chances after being a man down," Bennett concluded. "Before we become a team that is winning consistently, we have to firmly establish our style and character and then we can establish a trait of winning."

The Golden Eagles return to action on Friday, September 9 when they host DePaul at 7 p.m. at Valley Fields in the BIG EAST opener.