MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee survived a furious second-half comeback attempt from Green Bay to secure a 3-2 victory Wednesday night, keeping the Panthers' NCAA Tournament hopes alive with a hard-fought win over the visiting Phoenix. The home side weathered relentless pressure down the stretch, with Lola Wojcik and Kristina Karlof providing crucial early goals before the visitors mounted a desperate rally that fell just short.
Mallory McGuire opened the scoring in the 27th minute, finishing a well-worked team move to give Milwaukee an early advantage. Wojcik doubled the lead in the 47th minute with a clinical finish, and Karlof added a third just two minutes later to seemingly put the match out of reach at 3-0. The quick succession of goals appeared to have settled matters, but Green Bay had other ideas about how this contest would unfold.
The Phoenix refused to fold despite facing a three-goal deficit. Laney Stark pulled one back in the 66th minute, igniting a comeback that would test Milwaukee's resolve down the final stretch. Rebecca Stoeckmann added another in the 90th minute to make it 3-2, setting up a tense finale as Green Bay pressed for an equalizer. The visitors generated five shots on goal compared to Milwaukee's four, and their six corner kicks created multiple dangerous moments late in the match.
Milwaukee controlled much of the first half, though neither team found the breakthrough until McGuire's opener. The Panthers' early pressure paid dividends, and they looked comfortable managing the game's tempo. Green Bay created chances—Isabella Brozek and Alyssa Flood both tested the Milwaukee defense—but couldn't convert before halftime, a missed opportunity that would haunt them after the break.
The second half began with Milwaukee in complete control. Wojcik and Karlof's quick strikes made it look like a rout in the making, and the home crowd sensed victory was secure. But Green Bay's substitutions and tactical adjustments sparked new life into their attack. The visitors' persistence finally broke through with Stark's goal, and suddenly momentum had shifted dramatically toward the away side.
Stoeckmann's late goal set up a frantic finale, with Green Bay throwing everything forward in search of an equalizer. Milwaukee's defense, led by solid performances from their backline, held firm despite sustained pressure. Lola Wojcik picked up a yellow card for time-wasting in the 88th minute as the Panthers managed the closing minutes, a sign of how tightly contested the final stages had become.
Milwaukee improved to 11-4-3 with the victory, maintaining their position as a legitimate NCAA Tournament contender. The Panthers' ability to weather Green Bay's second-half storm demonstrated the resilience required at this level of college soccer. Green Bay, now 6-8-4, saw their two-game winning streak end despite an impressive comeback effort that showcased their fighting spirit.
Milwaukee returns to action this weekend, while Green Bay will look to bounce back quickly and regain momentum in their pursuit of tournament positioning. The Phoenix's late surge proved they remain dangerous opponents, even when facing significant deficits.