In the midst of yet another win streak, the then No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers women’s soccer team embarked on a West Coast trip last week, winning 1-0 over Oregon before falling 1-0 to then No. 17 Washington. Wisconsin, now ranked 20th in the nation, executed defensively, but couldn’t muster enough offensive power to return to Madison unscathed.
Oregon
The Wisconsin Badgers women’s soccer team defeated the Oregon Ducks 1-0 Thursday in Eugene to begin a two-game West Coast trek. The victory marked the Badger’s fourth straight victory during a tough stretch of conference play.
The game was defined by tough defense from both squads. The Badgers managed their only goal in the 53rd minute, even as they compiled 14 shots on the night. The Badgers’ defense, led by the outstanding back line of Ella Ottey, Kiara Gilmore, Hailey Baumann and Jadea Collin, did not give Oregon any good chances to score all game.
Oregon, in their first season under former UC-Davis coach Tracy Joyner, has struggled offensively. They are last in the Big Ten, and are the only team left with zero wins in conference play.
The Ducks are an extremely young team. Their starting lineup features three freshmen and three sophomores. However, the Ducks’ youth did not stop them from putting up a great fight on defense.
Wisconsin’s only goal came when they caught Oregon flat-footed in the 53rd minute. Wisconsin goalkeeper Drew Stover played a simple pass to defender Kiara Gilmore about 30 yards down field. Gilmore then played a long ball over the top of Oregon’s defense. The ball found the feet of Wisconsin’s striker Brooke Allen outside the 18-yard box. Allen took a couple of touches and slotted it right under Oregon’s keeper Caeley Goldstein as the defense never caught up to her.
Once on the board, the Badgers kept attacking while keeping Oregon from generating any true chances to score. Oregon made numerous subs on offense to keep their legs fresh, but the Badgers never wavered and limited Oregon to just two shots on goal.
Washington
The No. 15 Wisconsin women’s soccer team dropped a narrow 1-0 decision to No. 17 Washington on Sunday afternoon in Seattle, undone by a second-half penalty in what was otherwise a disciplined, defensive duel between two nationally ranked programs.
Coming into the game on a four-game win streak, the Badgers had momentum and confidence on their side. Yet from the opening whistle, Washington made it clear they would give Wisconsin a challenge — one that demanded patience and precision over flair.
The first half played out like a chess match. Both teams pressed cautiously, probing for mistakes rather than forcing them. Wisconsin’s back line, anchored by junior defender Ella Ottey and sophomore standout Jadea Collin, held steady under waves of Husky pressure. Washington’s quick interchanges through the midfield forced the Badgers to stay compact, while Collin and Ottey repeatedly stepped into passing lanes to clear danger before it reached the box.
Stover was tested in the 27th minute when Washington’s Jadyn Holdenried fired a low shot toward the bottom center, which the senior goalkeeper Stover parried away to keep things level. Just before halftime, Collin came up with one of Wisconsin’s biggest plays of the afternoon, blocking a close attempt off a Husky corner to preserve the 0-0 tie.
Halftime felt like a small victory. Though Washington controlled more possession, Wisconsin’s discipline prevented any breakthrough. The Badgers weathered the first half storm — but early in the second, that resilience was tested again.
In the 53rd minute, a tangle of legs in the box drew the referee’s whistle. Washington’s Alex Buck calmly converted the ensuing penalty, sending Stover the wrong way and putting the Huskies ahead 1-0. The moment silenced the Badger bench and sparked life into a home crowd eager for revenge after Washington’s earlier losses to ranked opponents.
From there, the match shifted entirely. Wisconsin pressed higher, opening up space but also risk. Junior midfielder Erin Connolly and graduate midfielder Ashley Martinez became central figures in the Badgers’ attack, combining for several late chances. Martinez nearly found the equalizer in the 85th minute when she curled a shot toward the bottom left corner, but Washington goalkeeper Tanner Ijams sprawled low to make the save.
The Badgers outworked Washington on set pieces, winning six corner kicks to the Huskies’ four, but struggled to connect cleanly on their deliveries. Despite the territorial advantage, the final touch remained elusive — a familiar frustration for a team built on defense first.
As time wound down, Stover continued to command the box with authority, coming off her line to collect crosses and keep the Badgers within striking distance. Yet Wisconsin’s late pushes fizzled as Washington slowed the tempo and tightened its defensive shape.
When the final whistle blew, Washington’s bench erupted. The 1-0 result not only sealed a statement win over another ranked opponent, but it also clinched the Huskies first-ever Big Ten regular season title. For Wisconsin, it was a frustrating but hard-fought end to a grueling road trip that showcased their resilience against elite competition.
Stover finished with three saves, while Ottey, Collin and freshman Kiara Gilmore again anchored a disciplined back line. Connolly and Martinez led the offensive effort in the midfield, generating most of Wisconsin’s late momentum.
The Badgers now look ahead to their regular season finale at Northwestern this Sunday, hoping to finish strong before postseason play begins.
