The Kickoff: Monday, Sept. 2

Your roundup of soccer news across Wisconsin and beyond

Top of the box

Junior defender Kristina Karlof converted an 8th-minute penalty kick to give UW-Milwaukee an early lead, and freshman goalkeeper Lilly Hanke (Waukesha West) made six saves for the clean sheet in her first collegiate start as the Panthers blanked Illinois-Chicago 3-0 in a Marquette Challenge Cup match Sunday night at Engelmann Stadium for their first win of the season. Karlof then set up junior Molly O’Regan (Racine St. Catherine’s) for her first goal of the season in the 53rd, and Milwaukee senior striker Kayla Rollins added an insurance goal from the spot in the 81st. Hanke is the first Panthers keeper since 2009 to post a shutout in their first college start.

College women

Sunday’s highlights

• UW 1:1 Western Michigan
  After trading goals in a 5-minute span in the second half, the host Badgers (3-1-1) and the Broncos (2-1-2) both had chances to score a late winner before settling for a draw at the McClimon Complex. UW senior Aryssa Mahrt (Wauwatosa) scored her team-high fifth goal of the season in the 69th minute off a pass from Ashley Martinez, canceling out Jen Blitchok’s opener. Martinez, though, hit the left post on a penalty kick in the 89th after Mahrt was taken down in the box — the Badgers are 0-for-2 on penalties this year, after Mahrt was denied from the spot in their season opener against BYU. The Broncos nearly won it at the death, as Abby Werthman’s left-footed strike from 23 yards out seemed destined for the goal, but UW junior keeper Drew Stover tipped it over the crossbar as time expired.

• UW-Green Bay 0:3 South Dakota State
  Playing in their home state for the first time in their college careers, senior twin sisters Laney Murdzek (Hudson) and Avery Murdzek (Hudson) each had an assist as the Jackrabbits (4-2-0) rolled past the host Phoenix (0-3-1) at Aldo Santaga Stadium. South Dakota State outshot Green Bay 25-5, including an 11-1 margin in shots on goal, and had 11 corner kicks to zero for the Phoenix. UWGB sophomore keeper Mallorie Benhart made seven saves.

• Marquette 1:2 Minnesota
  Senior Sophia Romine — who started her college career at UW — scored twice, including the game-winner in the 77th minute, as the Golden Gophers (4-0-0) rallied past the host Golden Eagles (1-4-1) in a Challenge Cup match at Valley Fields. Junior Josie Bieda came off the bench and gave Marquette the lead with her first goal of the year in the 31st minute, but Romine equalized in the 49th. Senior goalkeeper Chloe Olson matched her career high with nine saves for the Golden Eagles, who were outshot 19-4 on the day.

• Marquette Challenge Cup All-Tournament Team

  • MVP: Khyah Harper, Minnesota

  • Sophia Boman, Minnesota

  • Sophia Romine, Minnesota (UW)

  • Elizabeth Overberg, Minnesota

  • Mia Haertle, Marquette (Kettle Moraine)

  • Emily Fix, Marquette

  • Chloe Olson, Marquette

  • Elizabeth Reece, Milwaukee

  • Lainey Higgins, Milwaukee (Appleton East)

  • Senya Meurer, Milwaukee (Waukesha West)

  • Yulexi Diaz, Illinois-Chicago

Recruiting updates

• Class of 2025

• Class of 2026

College men

Sunday’s highlights

• Northern Illinois 1:2 UW-Green Bay
  Junior forward Chris Album, back in action after missing a game due to a red card suspension, scored his first goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 67th minute to lift the Phoenix (2-2-0) over the host Huskies (1-3-0) in DeKalb, Ill. Sophomore Luke Nicholson scored his first career goal in the 8th minute to stake Green Bay to the early lead, but NIU leveled the score on a penalty in the 49th.

• Freshman forward Luca Jones scored the first goal in UW-Stout men’s soccer program history, a 37th-minute equalizer, but host Lakeland roared to a 5-1 victory over the Blue Devils (0-2-0) in Plymouth. Freshman Austin Eigenberger (Grafton) had a goal and an assist and junior Eduardo Campuzano had two assists for the Muskies (1-1-0).

Today’s NCAA Division I games

No. 22 UW (3-0-0) plays host to Marquette (3-0-0) tonight at the McClimon Complex in Madison. The Badgers have outscored opponents 13-1, while the Golden Eagles have a 9-1 goal differential. Admission is free.

• UW-Milwaukee vs. St. Thomas (Minn.), 5 p.m.

• UW vs. Marquette, 7 p.m. (B1G+ 💲)

Recruiting updates

• Class of 2025

Professional

With the completion of group play Sunday night, USL League One confirmed the pairings and schedule for the semifinals and final of the inaugural Jägermeister Cup.

USL JÄGERMEISTER CUP
Semifinals
Wednesday, Sept. 11
No. 1 Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC vs. No. 4 Union Omaha, 8 p.m.
No. 2 Forward Madison FC vs. No. 3 Charlotte Independence, 6 p.m.
Final
Saturday, Sept. 28
At highest remaining seed, time TBD
All matches on ESPN+