MILWAUKEE – Wisconsin struck for the golden goal in the 109^th minute to escape with a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee women's soccer team in double-overtime Thursday evening at Engelmann Stadium.
 
The Panthers (5-1) made it a new game on a second-half goal from Mackenzie Schill, but suffer their first loss of the season with the late strike by the Badgers (4-1-2). The contest was played in front of a crowd of 1,170 fans – the fifth-largest attendance figure in program history.
 
"First of all, what a great crowd and cool environment for a college game," head coach Troy Fabiano said. "Wisconsin is a great program and I thought in the first half, they were definitely the better side. It took a bit for us to get going but in the second, they adjusted to the pace of it."
 
Wisconsin found the winner with just 77 seconds left before a draw, scoring on a scrum in front following a corner kick. Izzy Verdugo sent the ball on goal, deflecting to Natalie Viggiano for the game-winner at the 108:47 mark.
 
"To find yourself down 1-0 and go and find an equalizer and then create a couple of chances was good – but that's the way the ball goes some nights," Fabiano said. "Set piece and a scrum and unfortunately we don't clear the ball and it ends up in the back of the net."
 
Milwaukee's best chance in the extra sessions came in the 103^rd minute, with UW keeper Jordyn Bloom making a nice stop of a Rachel Phillpotts header that came off a corner kick from Gaby Schwartz.
 
Schwartz also played a role in the equalizer, starting the play with a throw-in from the sideline to Kat Van Booven. She sprinted upfield and sent a square ball to the top of the penalty area, with Schill beating the defense and doing the rest to make it 1-1 at the 60:18 mark, her league-leading sixth goal of the campaign.
 
The Panthers had a good look in the 80^th minute for a possible winner, with Haley Johnson sending a solid header on goal off a pass from Phillpotts, coming on a long free kick from Rafferty Kugler.
 
The Badgers made it 1-0 at the 33:18 mark, converting after a failed clearance.
 
The entertaining match saw Wisconsin accumulate a 23-to-16 advantage in shots, yet the Panthers reversed that at 9-to-5 in shots on goal. UW did grab the 5-to-4 edge in corner kicks and were whistled for 15 of the 26 fouls.
 
Johnson ended the evening with a team-high five shots. The assist for Schwartz was her NCAA-leading eighth of the season. Lauren Rice recorded a game-best eight shot attempts for the visitors, while Elaina LaMacchia was credited with three saves in the game. Bloomer ended the night with eight.
 
Up next, the Panthers remain at home, opening Horizon League play with the final contest of a seven-game homestand to begin the 2021 campaign. The Panthers and Raiders kickoff next Thursday at 7 p.m.