Wisconsin will face Western Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament at the McClimon Soccer Complex Friday after an impressive 13-5-2 regular season that ended in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament.
This will be the Badgers’ third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 26th appearance in program history. Wisconsin is one of nine Big Ten teams in the tournament this year and is the second highest seeded team from the Big Ten, with Michigan State getting a No. 2 seed and Washington and UCLA also getting No. 4 seeds.
Western Michigan made the tournament behind a 16-3-1 record, their most wins in program history, and won the MAC conference tournament for the second straight year to secure a bid to the tournament. The Badgers and Broncos last faced each other in 2024 in Madison, ending in a 1-1 draw.
The Broncos have built a solid team since then with Lewis Robinson taking home MAC Coach of the Year for the third straight season. His team is led by midfielder Drew Martin, who tied the single-season program record for assists in a year with 13 en route to winning MAC Midfielder of the Year. Other contributors include defender Mira Pierre-Webster, who won MAC Defender of the Year, goalkeeper Reagan Sulaver, who won MAC Freshman of the Year and forward Abby Smothers, the team’s leading goal-scorer.
Paula Wilkin’s squad will have to find ways to score on a Bronco’s defense that only allowed 14 goals all year. Wisconsin will look to all-conference midfielder Erin Connolly and leading goal-scorer Adee Boer to facilitate a relentless attack, as the Badger’s defense has held strong all season.
Wisconsin aims to go further than last year’s tournament, where they lost 3-1 to the No. 1 seed USC in the third round. If the Badgers win, they will face either Baylor or Texas State in the second round on Nov. 20.
