MADISON, WISCONSIN — #4 Wisconsin survived a late comeback attempt from Western Michigan, holding on for a 3-2 victory Friday night in front of 826 fans at the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship. The Badgers weathered a second-half surge from the visiting Broncos, with Adee Boer and Erin Connolly providing the offensive firepower needed to secure the win.
Western Michigan struck first with a stunning 24th-minute goal from Abby Smothers, who found the back of the net with assists from Avery Peters and Abby Baldridge. The early lead gave the Broncos momentum in what shaped up as a tightly contested affair. Wisconsin, however, responded with clinical finishing as the match progressed, gradually taking control of possession and creating more dangerous opportunities.
The first half remained competitive despite Wisconsin's territorial advantage. The Badgers generated 14 shot attempts compared to Western Michigan's four, but struggled to convert chances into goals. Connolly and Jenna Baumann tested the Western Michigan defense repeatedly, while Adee Boer's efforts from distance kept the Broncos' goalkeeper busy. Western Michigan's defense stood firm through the opening 45 minutes, keeping the deficit manageable despite being outshot.
Wisconsin finally broke through in the 58th minute when Connolly equalized, drawing the teams level at 1-1. The goal shifted momentum decisively toward the home side. Connolly struck again in the 72nd minute, this time assisted by Hailey Baumann, giving Wisconsin a 2-1 advantage. The Badgers appeared to be pulling away, but Western Michigan had other ideas.
Boer extended Wisconsin's lead to 3-1 in the 79th minute with a well-placed finish, seemingly putting the match out of reach. Yet Western Michigan refused to surrender. Meredith Vance answered just 47 seconds later with a goal of her own, assisted by Peters, cutting the deficit to one goal and setting up a frantic final stretch. The Broncos pressed aggressively in search of an equalizer, but Wisconsin's defense held firm through the closing minutes.
The statistical disparity told the story of Wisconsin's dominance. The Badgers fired 14 shots with eight finding the target, while Western Michigan managed just four attempts with two on goal. Wisconsin also earned nine corner kicks to Western Michigan's three, controlling the flow of play for large stretches. Western Michigan's goalkeeper made five saves to keep the Broncos competitive despite the possession disadvantage.
Connolly's two-goal performance highlighted Wisconsin's attacking depth, while Boer's clinical finishing in crucial moments proved decisive. For Western Michigan, Vance's late strike showcased the Broncos' resilience and ability to threaten even when under pressure. Peters' contributions on both ends of the field kept Western Michigan competitive throughout.
The victory demonstrates Wisconsin's championship-caliber poise under pressure, rallying from an early deficit to control the match. Western Michigan's second-half resurgence showed why the Broncos enter the tournament as a formidable opponent, but ultimately the Badgers' superior execution and composure in the final moments made the difference in a thrilling NCAA tournament clash. Wisconsin now faces Baylor on 11/20.