Wrapping up the regular season, the Badgers Women's Soccer Team had one loss to Michigan State and two wins against Michigan and Maryland.
Wisconsin vs Michigan State
The Badgers lost their last road game of the regular season 0-2 to No. 18 Michigan State on Oct.17.
Despite outshooting Michigan State in both overall shots (18-17) and shots on goal (10-9), a decisive goal by the Spartans in the first nine minutes of the game set the stage for the Badgers' loss.
Michigan State’s first goal began with a throw-in on Wisconsin’s half where the Spartans were able to capitalize and get a shot off into the left side of the goal. Wisconsin goalkeeper Drew Stover jumped to the correct side to block the shot but didn’t make it close enough to the corner to stop the ball from going in.
The second goal by Michigan State followed a similar pattern to the first when Michigan State ran the ball across the field into Badger territory. Stover pulled off a great save from outside the goal box, but the ball was kicked out of bounds for a Michigan State throw-in close to the Badger’s goalbox. This led to another possession by Michigan State that ended with a goal off the lower left bar.
Despite the two goals allowed, Stover had seven saves the entire game, while the team had 10 shots on goal. Senior Aryssa Marht had three shots on goal for four shots total, and senior Ashley Martinez had two of her three shots on goal.
Wisconsin vs Maryland
Following their 0-2 loss to Michigan State, Wisconsin shut out Maryland 5-0 on Oct. 20 in their return home to the McClimon Soccer Complex. Wisconsin managed their highest number of goals in a single game this season, where three out of the five goals were scored by previous scorers for the team.
Graduate defender Peighton Steffon and sophomore midfielder Erin Connolly both scored goals in the first half. Both goals were assisted by Martinez, with secondary assists coming from senior forward Riley Philbin and sophomore defender Hailey Baumann. Martinez recorded a season-high of three assists raising her season total to 7 season assists.
In the second half, senior midfielder Maia Richters scored her first goal of the season, and Martinez scored off of a penalty kick to make the score 4-0. In the 89th minute, freshman Jenna Baumann scored the first collegiate goal of her career. The freshman midfielder from Wausau joined the Badgers at the beginning of the season.
Wisconsin outshot Maryland 19-3, while Maryland had zero shots on goal as Stover earned another clean sheet.
Wisconsin vs. Michigan
The Badgers beat the Michigan Wolverines 1-0 in their final game of the regular season on Oct. 27.
Wisconsin’s game-winning goal came from graduate midfielder Dara Andringa who has played since 2021. Andringa earned a season high of goals scored with her second goal of the season.
The goal was a testament to Andrigna’s long-distance aim as she shot the ball into the goal from just outside the 18-yard line, and it sailed in without being stopped by any Michigan players or their goalkeeper.
Andrignas's goal came at the nine-minute mark in the first half, but the Badgers continued to hound the Michigan goal for the rest of the game. They outshot the Wolverines 16-4 with nine of those shots being on goal.
This game also marked another clean sheet from Stover, who recorded three saves for this game.
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.
