After claiming the Horizon League Tournament Championship against Green Bay last week, the Milwaukee women's soccer team opens its 2025 NCAA Tournament run with a trip to East Lansing, Mich., to take on Michigan State. The Panthers (13-4-3) and the nationally-ranked Spartans (12-3-6) will square off Friday, November 14 at DeMartin Stadium on the MSU campus. Kick-off is set for 5 p.m. CT and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The all-time series with Michigan State, which is ranked No. 9 in this week's national poll, dates back to 1986 and sees Sparty with the 10-3-0 advantage at the moment. The last time these two teams squared off in the postseason was in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, a game that the Panthers sent to overtime with a late goal before falling, 3-2, in double overtime. MKE posted 3-2 victories in both 2011 (on the road) and 2010 (at home). The Spartans did claim a convincing victory over the Panthers back in August at the start of this season.

Tickets went on sale as of Tuesday morning via the www.msuspartans.com website and are $15 for adults and $10 for youth/senior (ages 18-under) and senior citizens (age 55 & over). All seats are general admission. There are no refunds or exchanges; check the MKE website for all link information for tickets as well as game info. The entire NCAA bracket is available on page 12 of this release.

The Panthers are making their 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 18th with the Horizon League's automatic berth. Milwaukee made previous tournament trips in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The team has posted an all-time mark in the event of 3-18-2, claiming 1-0 victories over #14 Xavier in 2021 and over Elon in 2020, and a 3-0 win over Illinois State at home in 2011 in addition to advancing to the second round following PK shootouts in both 2006 (T, 0-0 vs. Michigan/advance 5-3) and 2005 (T, 0-0 vs. Purdue/advance 6-5). Last season, the team fell to No. 13 Notre Dame by a final score of 5-1.

The Panthers are coming off yet another strong season in 2024, claiming their third consecutive sweep of Horizon League regular-season and tournament titles in head coach Kevin Boyd's third season at the helm. The regular-season title was the ninth in the past 10 years for MKE. In addition, the team has now won the regular-season title 23 times since 2000 (all but 2020 and 2014) and 24 total times overall. The Panthers also made their 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 17th with the Horizon League's automatic berth.

LOOKING AT THE OPPONENTS:
MICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans are 12-3-6 overall and have earned their highest NCAA Tournament seed in program history – they are a No. 2 seed in the tournament and will host the first three rounds on their home field. Among the selection criteria deliberated by the Division I soccer committee, the Spartans are the highest-ranked Big Ten team in the RPI (6). Michigan State is making its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth consecutive.  The Spartans have hosted at least one NCAA Tournament game in each of its last three seasons and are 5-3-0 all-time in the event under head coach Jeff Hosler, who will be guiding MSU to a fourth straight appearance during his tenure.

Hosler is in his fifth season and has gone 67-19-10 in his time at MSU (now 302-86-38 in his career), had the team ranked #12 in the preseason national poll, and are currently ranked No. 9.

The squad played to the title game in the Big Ten Tournament, falling to #12 Washington following a penalty-kick shootout after a 1-1 draw. Kennedy Bell leads five players in double-figure points with a team-high 26 points, coming on 10 goals and six assists. Kayla Briggs (19 on 6G/7A) is second. Kennedy Zorn (5 GP/0.44 GAA) and Noelle Henning (17 GP/1.19 GAA/7 Sho) have been the two goalkeepers, with Henning the main starter down the stretch and in the postseason so far.

The Spartans enjoyed another successful campaign last year, going 14-3-5 overall and 7-1-3 in Big Ten play. MSU advanced to the program's second-straight NCAA Sweet 16 after earning a third-consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans also earned their first-ever No. 1 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll in late September and were ranked in the Top 25 every week during the season.

ON A SERIOUS ROLL
Milwaukee heads into the NCAA Tournament on one of the best stretches in the nation, having gone unbeaten in its past 14 matches (12-0-2 dating back to Aug. 31), including convincing victories in both Horizon League Tournament contests, led by an impressive offensive performance by Horizon League Tournament Most Valuable Player Kristina Karlof. Karlof contributed to five of the seven scores over the two games, finding the back of the net twice – including her second Olimpico of the season – adding three assists.
 
All-Tournament selection Bella Hollenbach was just as good in goal, posting back-to-back shutouts in the postseason, including an 8-save performance in the 4-0 championship win over Green Bay.

In fact, the MKE offense has gone shooting up the national NCAA rankings in numerous offensive categories.
They now check in nationally in the Top 10 at:
4. Total Points at 170 (national leader Stanford at 218)
4. Total Assists at 64 (national leader Stanford at 70)
5. Total Goals at 53 (national leader Stanford at 74)
5. Assists Per Game at 3.20 (national leader Stanford at 3.7)
6. Points Per Game at 8.50 (national leader Stanford at 11.5)
9. Scoring Offense at 2.65 gpg (national leader Stanford at 3.89)


HOW THEY GOT HERE
Milwaukee enters the NCAA Tournament after claiming the Horizon League Tournament Championship for the eighth consecutive season. The team started the postseason with a 3-0 victory over Oakland in the semifinals and punched their ticket with a 4-0 shutout of Green Bay, led by a goal and assist from Horizon League Tournament Most Valuable Player Kristina Karlof. Karlof was joined on the Horizon League All-Tournament Team by Anna Champine, Bella Hollenbach, and Lola Wojcik. The completed bracket is available on page 13 of this release.

TOURNAMENT PRIDE
The Panthers have a long history of success in the Horizon League Tournament and have now posted an impressive 47-8-10 record all-time in the event, including 23-4-3 in semifinal action. In addition, a member of the Panther roster has been named league tournament MVP in 14 of the past 18 years, including Kristina Karlof this year. The team claimed its 19th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament, having made it each of the last eight seasons after a stretch without a visit since the 2013 campaign (which also marked the end of a streak of six in a row). Those eight straight NCAA Tournament appearances is the 10th-longest streak of any program in the 2025 event,

RANKINGS ROUND-UP
The Panthers will be taking on a ranked opponent for the 57th time in program history when they battle #9 Michigan State Friday. Overall, Milwaukee is now 4-45-7 against ranked foes (0-3 in 2025). The team last recorded a victory in that situation against Xavier in 2021 (a 1-0 decision over a #14 Musketeer squad in the first round of the NCAA Tournament).

Looking back, the game against then No. 3 Notre Dame (which ended in a 2-2 draw) to open 2023 marked the 15th contest against a Top-5 ranked opponent in school history, with the most recent being the NCAA Tournament matchup with #2 Virginia in 2021. The highest-ranked team MKE has ever knocked off was No. 8 Nebraska back in 1998 when the Panthers won, 2-1, in 2OT. That 2023 matchup with Notre Dame was also the last time MKE opened the season against a ranked foe, something that has happened on six prior occasions in program history - with 2025 being the seventh (2023: #12 Notre Dame/2013: #19 Michigan/2012: #24 South Carolina/1998: #8 Nebraska/1995: #1 North Carolina/1993: #16 Wisconsin). 

BRING THE HONORS
Mallory McGuire was named the Horizon League Player of the Year and the Offensive Player of the Year, Bella Hollenbach was selected as the Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year, Ellie Rebmann was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, and Kevin Boyd was tabbed the Horizon League Coach of the Year to highlight the 2025 postseason selections. The team saw nine total student-athletes get honored – five first-team selections, two second-team honorees, and a pair of third-team selections. The five first-teamers marks a tie for the second-highest total in program history.
 
Joining McGuire, Hollenbach, and Rebmann on the All-Horizon League First Team are Anna Champine and Lola Wojcik. Jenni Andjelic and Emily Petring were the second-team choices, with Kristina Karlof and Natalie Zodrow rounding out the award winners with spots on the all-league third team.

MAGNIFICENT MALLORY
Mallory McGuire is the 10th Panther all-time to win league Player of the Year honors and the third consecutive, joining Lainey Higgins last year and Kayla Rollins in 2023. Her selection as the Offensive Player of the Year marks the sixth time in program history to claim those honors (Rollins won back-to-back in 2023/2024). She has made quite the splash in her first season with the Panthers, finishing the regular season as the top point scorer in the Horizon League with 24 points – tying for the league lead with nine goals while also sitting in a tie for third with her six assists.

THE FABULOUS FIVE
With a 3-2 victory over Green Bay Oct. 29, the Panthers clinched the No. 1 seed for the fifth consecutive Horizon Leage regular-season title. The Panthers have had a very long line of success when it comes to Horizon League play, now claiming the regular-season title in 10 of the past 11 seasons (2015-19/2021-24) as well as 24 of the past 26 titles overall (25 total). In fact, the team has posted a sparkling 80-3-11 ledger (.910 win %) over the past 10 campaigns in regular-season conference play.

EXTENDING THE RUN
The Panthers are now unbeaten in 39 straight Horizon League regular-season games, dating back to the conference opener from the 2022 season (Sept. 15, 2022). They have now reset the Horizon League record, set by your very own Panthers from 2016 through 2020.
1. 39 (31-0-8), Milwaukee, current streak
2. 36 (33-0-3), Milwaukee, 2016 thru 2020
3. 31 (29-0-2), Milwaukee, 2003 thru 2008 

OLIMPICO MAGIC
Kristina Karlof put the Panthers ahead of Wright State Oct. 19 with a rarity - scoring her fifth goal of the season directly off her corner kick and into the far corner of the net. The "Olimpico" is the first for the program since Erin Corrigan accomplished the feat twice during the 2018 campaign. The highlight landed at No. 3 in the nation on ESPN SportsCenter's "Top 10 Plays of the Day". She added another in the league championship against Green Bay.

SENIOR SALUTE
The program honored its senior class before the match against Wright State Oct. 19. Congratulations to the following on their careers in Black & Gold: #2 Payton Green, #4 Lola Wojcik, #10 Mallory McGuire, #11 Ashlyn Skinner-Barrett, #15 Anna Champine, #24 Kristina Karlof, #25 Abby Stoeck, #27 Zoey Pagels, #28 Savannah Sievert, #38 Jenni Andjelic, and #99 Bella Hollenbach.

BALANCE IS KEY
Losing the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year and the Player of the Year from last season seemed daunting, with the combined 27 goals of Kayle Rollins (18) and Lainey Higgins (9) needed to be replaced. Fast-forward to this fall and it has been offense-by-committee for the Panthers, with incredible balance to this point. Through 20 games, Milwaukee has seen 13 different players score goals and 17 in total record points, topped by 20+ points by four different players. Mallory McGuire leads the way and sits tops in the league at 24 points on nine goals and six assists and was named Horizon League Player of the Year. After her big league tournament showing, Kristina Karlof is now tied with McGuire at 24 points (8G/8A). Lola Wojcik sits tied for third with 23 (9G/5A) and Emily Petring is right behind with 22 (8G/6A). The team has seven in double-figures total. For comparison, the last time the Panthers had more in double-figures for a season in recent play was seven in 2021.

UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY
The Panthers ran into unfamiliar territory October 9, finding themselves down 1-0 late in their game at Detroit Mercy. That marked the first time MKE was behind on the scoreboard in a conference game since September 29, 2024 – a span of over 10 games and 1,076 minutes. No worries, the team remained calm and came through with a near-immediate answer just two minutes later and pulled out the 2-1 win in the final minute.

THE LATE SHOW
Mallory McGuire struck late for the game-winner in the final minute against Detroit Mercy Oct. 9, scoring at the 89:36 mark for the 2-1 victory. 

At 89:36, it's one of the latest goals scored to win or tie for a Milwaukee player since at last 2000. It's hard to top the strike at 89:54 by Haley Johnson for the draw at Youngstown State in September of 2022. But, the next closest anyone has come in the last 20-plus years to that type of drama was back in 2018 (McKaela Schmelzer equalized at 88:42 in a 3-2 OT win over Iowa State) and then back in 2013 (Kelly Lewers struck for the win at 88:46 in a 4-3 decision over Miami OH). Johnson's goal was the latest of any Panther strike in regulation since Lewers again was responsible, netting one at 89:57 in a loss to Iowa State.

BANG-BANG
The Panthers piled up five goals in their victory over Cleveland State Oct. 4, but it was the timing of goals No. 2 and No. 3 that stand out. Mallory McGuire (23:39) and Emily Petring (24:13) made the scoreboard work overtime, scoring back-to-back goals in a span of just 34 seconds to mark the third-fastest back-to-back goals scored in the history of the program. Just the school record of 28 seconds (back in 1997) and runner-up of 33 seconds (back in 1993) have been faster, with the double-up this season the fastest since a 35-second run-up back in 2016.
1. Lindsay Munkwitz (65:24)/Katie Waltenberger (65:52) in 28 seconds vs. Western Illinois in 1997
2. Betsy Ribares (50:37)/Meredith Ammons (51:10) in 33 seconds against Valparaiso in 1993

LOCKED DOWN
The Milwaukee defense was certainly on point in the month of September - helping lead the team to a perfect 6-0 record while posting shutout wins over Minnesota, SIUE, Robert Morris, Youngstown State, and Purdue Fort Wayne. Leading the charge was Bella Hollenbach, who was named Horizon League Under Armour Defensive Player of the Week for her recent efforts Sept. 22. It's the second time she has claimed the honor this season, also selected Sept. 8.
 
Hollenbach kept her work scoreless in net rolling through another match last week, leading the Panthers to a clean sheet against Cleveland State. She now carries a league-best 0.40 GAA through five conference games after having her scoreless streak come to an end at impressive 478:28 after finally allowing a goal in the month of September.

WOAH - CHECK OUT LOLA
Lola Wojcik was named Horizon League Player of the Week Sept. 29 after she played very well in two games, scoring three points in each game as she scored twice and added two assists in Milwaukee's 2-0 week that moved them to 4-0 in Horizon League play. Especially big was the game-winner against Northern Kentucky in the 70th minute.

POINT-FEST
The Panthers put together a brilliant offensive performance against SIUE Sept. 14, finishing off a 7-0 victory with season-highs in goals (7), shots (24), and assists (12). The seven-goal outburst matches the season-high from 2024 as well.

The team had a pair of players record braces - marking the first time that happened since Molly O'Regan and Kayla Rollins accomplished the feat Oct. 26 of last season in a 5-0 win against Cleveland State - with Kristina Karlof and Emily Petring both netting a pair.
The team also finished the day with 12 assists - good for third place all-time for a single game as a team in program history. It marked the first contest with 10+ assists since a 9-1 victory over Robert Morris back in September of 2022 (10 that match).
In all, eight players recorded helpers, with four setting up two goals apiece: Zoey Pagels, Natalie Zodrow, Ashlynn Skinner-Barrett, and Maya Wilson. Karlof (2G/1A) was honored as Horizon League Player of the Week for her efforts.
Program Record - Assists in a Game
T1. 16 vs. Chicago State Sept. 4, 2016
T1. 16 vs. Western Illinois Sept. 5, 1997
3. 12 vs. SIUE, Sept. 14, 2025

NON-CONFERENCE CHALLENGES
Through the first seven games of the 2025 season, the Panthers built one of the toughest schedules in the country - battling three teams ranked in the Top 25 when the game was played. The cumulative win-loss record of the seven teams the Panthers played (once the gauntlet was complete) sat at 30-13-5, a winning percentage of .677.

SWEEP IT UP
The combination of Ashlyn Skinner-Barrett and Bella Hollenbach pulled off the weekly sweep of the Horizon League Player of the Week honors Sept. 8, just the third time the Panthers had each winner over the past five seasons. Skinner-Barrett scored the lone goal of the game against Minnesota on a header off a corner kick opportunity. Her goal in the 82nd minute helped Milwaukee to the impressive road win, coming against the regionally-ranked Golden Gophers who were also selected to the preseason national Top 25 poll. Hollenbach was huge – coming up with eight of her career-best 10 saves in the second half with the game on the line. She came up with big stop after big stop as the game was headed down the stretch, keeping MKE in position for the big victory when the goal finally came. 

FOR OPENERS
The Panthers did open 2025 with a tough loss to No. 23 Wisconsin and are now 15-17-4 in season openers at the NCAA Division I level.  The team has now gone 6-5-4 in season openers the past 15 years, with a 1-0 victory over Western Illinois in 2015 snapping a three-game stretch without a victory. Speaking of season debuts, the six goals against NIU in 2021 (a 6-0 victory) marked the most in program history for a lid-lifter, topping the five scored against Robert Morris to open the 2020 campaign. Four had not been scored in over 30 years (4-2 over St. Norbert in 1988 and 4-0 over St. Mary's (IN) in 1987), while three has also been recorded on four different occasions.

ABOUT THAT SCHEDULE
The MKE program has never been afraid to play a tough non-conference slate, and this season will be no different. The Panthers will take on four different opponents who were ranked in the preseason United Soccer Coaches National Poll, topped by a matchup with defending NCAA National Champion and preseason No. 1 North Carolina. In addition to that game against the Tar Heels, Milwaukee was also set to square off with Wisconsin (preseason No. 23), Michigan State (preseason No. 12), and Minnesota (preseason No. 24).

KEEPING THE BAR HIGH
Following a first year on the sidelines that included the Horizon League regular-season and league tournament crowns, Kevin Boyd repeated the titles and took the Panthers back to the NCAA Tournament for a 17th time in program history in 2023 and then did it again in 2024. His three-year win-loss record stands at 36-14-10 (.683 winning percentage) heading into the new campaign while going an impressive 26-1-6 (.879) in regular-season Horizon League contests.
 
In 2024, the Panthers went 12-7-2, going a near-perfect 9-0-1 in Horizon League play after a daunting non-conference schedule. In conference action, he led MKE to a staggering statistical lead in every category, pacing the 10-game slate in shots with 221 (second was 144), shots per game at 10.2 (7.3), shots on goal with 102 (73), total points with 88 (72), total goals with 28, and assists with 32. Also, on the defensive side, the team posted eight shutouts in the 10 matches, with its 0.20 goals-against average first by a wide margin (second was 0.70). Among national NCAA leaders, his team finished 11th in each of the following categories: scoring offense (2.38 gpg), points per-game (7.24), assists per-game (2.48). In addition, the Panthers were 15th in total points (152), 12th in total assists (52), and 17th in total goals (50). He guided Lainey Higgins to Horizon League Player of the Year honors, Parker Donahugh to Goalkeeper of the Year, and Kayla Rollins to a repeat selection as Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, the six first-team all-league selections marked the most in program history.

SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL
Seniors played a key role in 2024, as five full-time starters graduated, including the Horizon League Player of the Year (Lainey Higgins), the Offensive Player of the Year (Kayla Rollins), and the Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year (Parker Donahugh).

The team returns just one of its Top 5 point scorers, with Rollins (39 points), Higgins (22 points), and Molly O'Regan (16 points) moving on, leaving Kristina Karlof (15 points) as the leading returning scorer to the field this season. MKE will still have an experienced roster that sees six players that made at least 17 starts (out of the 21 total games) a year ago including Karlof (18), as well as Jenni Andjelic (starts in all 21 games), Anna Champine (21), Ellie Rebmann (19), Lola Wojcik (18), and Savannah Sievert (17). In net, Donahugh will also leave a big opportunity, as she played all but 183:03 in net last fall.
Points: returners account for 55 of the 152 points (36.2 percent)
Goals: 14 of 50 goals (28.0 percent)
Assists: 27 of 52 assists (51.9 percent)
Starts: returning players accounted for 125 starts last season. 

PRESEASON POLL: TOPS AGAIN
Milwaukee was picked by league coaches to finish first in the 2025 Horizon League regular season. The Panthers tallied 10 first-place votes and the maximum 120 points in the coaches' poll to hold down the top spot, with the 105-point total of Northern Kentucky coming in second. This marks the seventh time in the past eight seasons that the team has been picked for the top spot, a place they have earned in the conference poll 22 times since 2000, as well as an amazing run of 13 straight from 2000-2012. Detroit Mercy (98 points/one first-place vote/third) and Robert Morris (80/fourth) wrapped up the next tier, with IU Indy and Wright State tying for fifth with 64 points.
2025 #HLWSOC Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Milwaukee (10) – 120
2. Northern Kentucky – 105
3. Detroit Mercy (1) – 98
4. Robert Morris – 80
T5. IU Indianapolis – 64
T5. Wright State – 64
7. Purdue Fort Wayne – 57
8. Green Bay – 47
T9. Oakland – 32
T9. Youngstown State – 32
11. Cleveland State – 27 

AN IMPRESSIVE LIST TO BE AT THE TOP
Let's break it down, the Panthers have been very good since the start of the 2017 campaign. How good? Well, at 113-22-17 (.799), they actually have one of the best overall winning percentages in the nation over that span in NCAA play heading into 2025. The only ones higher are 2022 National Champion UCLA at 138-21-17 (.832), 2019 & 2017 NCAA National Champion Stanford at 141-23-14 (.831), 2023 NCAA Champion Florida State at 140-24-16 (.822), and 2024 National Champion North Carolina at 147-26-17 (.818). Then, it's Milwaukee in fifth place on that impressive list. No. 6 on that list is now Georgetown (115-19-34/.786), followed by Duke (115-34-22/.737).

WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE!!
Milwaukee went 5-1-4 at home back in 2015. Since then, the Panthers have posted an impressive 80-9-8 ledger at Engelmann Stadium (an .866 winning percentage), including perfect 8-0 (in 2022) and 11-0 runs (2019) through home outings and a 13-1 mark at Engelmann in 2021. The team is also 31-5-5 at home under head coach Kevin Boyd (.817), 45-6-5 since the start of the 2021 campaign in home games (.848) and posted a 19-game (18-0-1) unbeaten streak that was snapped in in a 1-0 loss to Marquette in September of 2023 (the last prior loss a 2-1 double-OT decision to Wisconsin in September of 2021).

HOO-RAY HORIZON
When it comes to Horizon League openers, the record is quite impressive all-time. Milwaukee has gone 26-3-1 in opening action (since joining the league in 1994), with a string of 14 wins in a row from 1998 through 2011. The squad had been victorious in nine straight as well, before getting knocked off by WSU in 2022. This fall, the team earned a 2-0 decision over Northern Kentucky on the road to get things rolling.

THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR
Milwaukee recorded a 1-0 victory over Northern Kentucky in the 2023 Horizon League Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament. That 1-0 scoreline has a familiar ring to it, as the team has been simply amazing in games featuring that final score recently. Since 2015, the Panthers have now played 42 games that ended 1-0 (either way). Their record? An impressive 34-8 in those pressure-packed outings, including against regionally-ranked Minnesota Sept. 5 of this season.

CATCH THEM IN ACTION
Milwaukee women's soccer will be available for the viewing pleasure of fans this season, as six of the nine home games are scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+ (subject to change due to weather and location). The Horizon League and ESPN have an agreement that includes ESPN hosting the league's digital network on the ESPN+ platform. ESPN+, which will host the Horizon League women's soccer, men's soccer and volleyball championships this fall season, offers fans thousands of live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for $11.99 a month (or $119.99 per year) and cancel at any time. Launched in April of 2018, ESPN+ is an integrated part of a completely redesigned ESPN App.

ON TAP
If the team is able to secure a first-round NCAA Tournament victory, it will advance to play round two November 20-23.