The University of Wisconsin-Madison women's soccer team pulled off a hard-fought victory against state rivals University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee last Thursday at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
With their 2-1 win, the Badgers continue a four-game winning streak against the Panthers, who they haven’t lost to since 2010. This includes a victory in the first round of the 2023 NCAA tournament where the Badgers shut out the Panthers 2-0.
The Badgers outshot their opponents, winning the game. In the first 24 minutes of the game, senior forward Aryssa Mahrt made five shots, all of which were on goal. Only one of those shots created a goal for the team, which came in the 24th minute by Mahrt.
During those same 24 minutes, Milwaukee made one shot, which happened to trickle in for their only goal of the game.
The Badgers outshot the Panthers 15-8 in total. While the Panthers made seven shots in the second half, only one of them was on frame, and none of them resulted in a goal.
Panthers goalkeeper Parker Donahue kept the Badgers at bay for most of the first half, blocking five shots total. Donahue blocked another attempt by Mahrt to score in the second half, denying Mahrt a goal in the 70th minute.
But Donahue could not stop freshman midfielder Anya Gulbruson, who shot and missed in the 75th minute but came back three minutes later to score the game-winning goal.
Gulbruson came off the bench as a substitute and is in her first year with the Badgers from Oswego East High School. At Oswego East, Gulbruson holds the single-season goal record and was an All-Conference, All-Sectional and All-State selection.
“It was the best feeling,” Gulbruson told The Daily Cardinal. “I've watched [Badger Women’s Soccer] for so long and then be able to contribute to a win.”
As for her future with the team, she said, “I just want to keep contributing.”
Milwaukee was inaccurate with their shots in the second half, leading to only one save total from Wisconsin goalkeeper Drew Stover. Ashley Martinez and Maddie Ishaug both logged assists.
Martinez’s assist came in Mahrt’s first goal, marking her third assist of the season. Three of these assists were goals made by Mahrt.
Martinez and Mahrt have proved to be a dynamic duo this season, and all signs point to that continuing.
Gabriella Hartlaub is the former arts editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has also written state politics and campus news. She currently is a summer reporting intern with Raleigh News and Observer. Follow her on Twitter at @gabihartlaub.
