PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Milwaukee School of Engineering forward Freddy Comparato scored on a penalty kick early in the second half that proved to be the difference as the Lakeland University men's soccer team lost a tough 1-0 decision Wednesday night at Taylor Field.

The Raiders scored the lone goal of the match on a second chance at a penalty kick, after an official ruling waived off a save of an initial attempt. MSOE held the rest of the way and held on to improve to 6-1-1 overall and 2-0 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, while the Muskies dropped to 2-4-1 overall and 1-2 in the NACC after their second 1-0 loss in conference.

Lakeland made its long-awaited home debut for the season after playing its first six matches away from home, and the Muskies held off the always-strong Raiders in a scoreless tie in the first half. A foul in the box just over two minutes into the second half gave MSOE a penalty kick, though, and the best opportunity of the match at that point for either team.

Comparato's initial shot was on the ground and to the right of goalkeeper Zach Heiman (Jr.-Racine, Wis.), who dove to knock the ball away and keeping it in play, where the Muskies appeared ready to clear. The sideline official on the goal line ruled that Heiman had come off his line early, giving Comparato a second shot at the penalty kick. He buried the second chance for his third goal of the season and giving MSOE a 1-0 lead.

The Raiders would get more chances as the second half went on, with all seven of their shots on goal coming after halftime. Heiman made six saves, including a 1-2 sequence in the 77th minute when he stopped a free kick by Nico Picho and then denied a header by Austin Killen just seconds later.

The Muskies' opportunities throughout were limited, though often of good quality. That included in the 59th minute, when forward Carson Galla (Sr.-Deerfield, Wis.) with a burst of speed outhustled the Raiders defense to a ball in the offensive end and passed to Michael Barragan (Sr.-Milwaukee, Wis.). Barragan fired quickly with a hard shot just wide right of the goal.

Lakeland also had a free kick in the 79th minute by Joseph Reyes (Sr.-Pico River, Calif.), whose shot bending away from the goal and towards a converging wave was headed by Chris Maschio (Fr.-Sheboygan, Wis.), forcing MSOE second half goalkeeper Ethan Houseworth to make the save. Brahm Dell Adema (So.-Plano, Texas) also had a good opportunity in the 26th minute in the first half, receiving a throw-in and quickly firing a shot saved by Raiders starting keeper Asher Harris, who made the save on the near post.

MSOE finished with a 14-4 advantage in shot attempts, including a 7-3 lead in shots on goal. Harris made two saves and Houseworth one save for the Raiders, who also attempted 10 corner kicks.

Lakeland is home again Saturday when it hosts Benedictine University for another NACC match starting at 3:30 p.m. at Taylor Field, the second part of a doubleheader with the Muskies women's team taking on the Eagles at 1 p.m.