Erin Connolly’s goal — and the celebration that ensued — felt like a breakthrough moment.
Seconds after the senior captain scored a header goal, she hugged her teammates, performed a fun dance move and then got back to work until the final whistle.
Connolly’s goal in minute 68 gave the Wisconsin women’s soccer team (5-1-2) insurance in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Northwestern University at McClimon Soccer Complex.
But, it wasn’t easy for the Badgers to find the back of the net in the opening weekend of the Big Ten Conference.
In their first game on Thursday, the Badgers tied 0-0 against a then-unbeaten University of Illinois, showing off their strong defense, but couldn’t capitalize on the attack. Sunday’s hard-fought 2-0 win over the Wildcats in a competitive conference seemed to fuel Wisconsin’s offense for its upcoming Big Ten games.
Defensive battle on Thursday
Thursday’s game against Illinois set up a showdown between two strong defensive lines with all-conference goalkeepers behind the net protecting them.
Wisconsin came into the game having conceded five goals in non-conference play, while Illinois conceded only two in five games. The game proved to be a defensive battle as neither let up in the scoreless draw.
Both team’s goalkeepers, Drew Stover and Izzy Lee are named to the 2026 MAC Herman watchlist. Lee, Illinois’ keeper, named Big Ten goalkeeper of the week on Sept. 8, had four saves against a Badgers offense that generated four shots on goal.
Wisconsin controlled the opening 20 minutes of the half and utilized the space out wide. Midfielder Anya Gulbrandsen sent several crosses into the box, but no one was there to finish.
The momentum shifted when Illinois forward Ashlyn Adams stripped the ball from Hailey Baumann close to the goal. Adams dribbled at speed and took a shot at the net, forcing Stover to make her first save of the night. Illinois took two more shots at Stover before the half.
The Badgers continued to utilize the wide spaces, finding forward Jane Rodgers and Gulbrandsen in the second. They had a majority of possession and took four shots, but none tested Lee all too much.
The game ended in a 0-0 tie, leaving much to be desired in the Badgers’ second game on Sunday.
Wisconsin finds the net twice against Northwestern
It took time for Wisconsin to settle into Sunday’s game. With much of the ball on their side of the field, the Badgers had to fight off a high pressure line from Northwestern in the early minutes.
In minute 13, Gulbrandsen put the Badgers up 1-0 after getting on the end of Izy Traub’s free-kick and deflecting the ball past the Northwestern goalkeeper. Following the goal, Northwestern head coach Michael Moynihan, a Wisconsin alum, used his new coach's challenge and argued for an offside on the goal.
New NCAA rules piloted this year allows coaches to issue a challenge at any point of the game. After a look, the referees approved Gulbrandsen’s goal and she earned her second of the season and sixth of her career. Traub’s assist was her fifth of the season — and she’s a freshman.
The Badgers continued their stoic defense from Thursday’s game and did not allow Northwestern a shot on goal until the second half.
Coming into Sunday’s game, Northwestern beat University of Michigan 1-0 to open their Big Ten. Despite the Wildcats’ momentum, Wisconsin had the advantage in goal-scoring efficiency on Sunday. In seven games, Wisconsin scored 15 goals from 95 shots compared to Northwestern’s five goals with 97 total shots in eight games.
Both sides traded opportunities in the second half until Traub’s corner found a leaping Connolly in minute 68. Connolly’s goal provided the insurance needed for the Badgers to earn their first Big Ten win of the season, 2-0 over Northwestern.
Wisconsin will play University of Indiana on Sept. 20 at McClimon. The No. 14 ranked Badgers will look to keep the goals rolling against an Indiana team that allowed three against No.5 Ohio State in their Sept. 13 0-3 loss. But, the Hoosiers could cause problems as they sit just behind Wisconsin after opening weekend of Big Ten play.
Shane Colpoys is a sports editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has written in-depth on the Wisconsin women's hockey team beat.
