HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Emily Petring accounted for all of the scoring for the Milwaukee women's soccer team in a 3-1 win over Northern Kentucky Thursday evening from Scudamore Field.
The Panthers (6-4-2, 4-0-0 Horizon League) were back to even with the Norse (5-5-1, 1-3-0 Horizon League) at 1-1 after a 58
th minute equalizer, setting the stage for Petring to finish off the hat trick with goals in the 61
st and 87
th minutes to send her team to the 3-1 decision.
"That was a very, very good win for us on the road against a dangerous NKU team," head coach
Kevin Boyd said. "I thought the game was every bit as tight as we thought it would be."
The hat trick is the first for the Panthers since Kayla Rollins accomplished the feat in November of 2024 against Robert Morris. The win also marks the eighth consecutive against the Norse, part of an unbeaten streak that has now reached 12 (10-0-2) dating back to 2016. In addition, the beat goes on for the longest active streak of its kind in the nation, as Milwaukee is now unbeaten in 43 consecutive (35-0-8) regular-season Horizon League matches, dating back to 2022.
Petring's first made it 1-0 in the 11
th minute and came off a failed clearance near the Milwaukee goal. The ball came right from the defense, with Petring heading it home at the 10:22 mark on what was the first MKE shot attempt of the match.
It could have been a much bigger lead at the break than just 1-0.
Natalie Zodrow gave a corner kick a close run in the 18
th minute before the frame of the goal got involved for the Norse defense.
In the 29
th minute,
Sadbh Griffin volleyed a loose ball off a corner kick off the crossbar and just 62 seconds later, Petring just missed a second. Her shot after carrying a ball into the offensive third struck off the right post and out of play in the 30
th minute.
Up 1-0 early in the second half, NKU found its goal in the 58
th minute, sending one on frame that somehow found its way trickling over the end line.
But Milwaukee had the answer, this time courtesy of some strong passing skills between Petring,
Denise Camarena, and
Ashlyn Derosier, with Petring getting the first and last touches on the sequence to make it 2-1 just three-plus minutes later at the 61:05 mark.
"Second half, they came out on us, and we defended for 10 to 15 minutes until we gave up a goal," Boyd said. "The immediate response by the team was outstanding. I mean, the moment we kicked off, we got into their end and stayed on them until
Emily Petring found the second goal. But it was an unbelievable attacking possession for multiple players, including Denise (Camarena), who gave her the final ball in the box, and then she slipped it home."
From there, the team defense rose up and kept NKU from connecting and made it tough to even get past midfield. The lead nearly grew to 3-1 in the 78
th minute courtesy of Derosier, but an impressive leaping save pushed ball just wide from distance.
Petring then closed with a beauty, taking a pass from
Ashlyn Skinner-Barrett from the wing and somehow scoring from a tough angle near the endline to finish off the hat trick at the 86:05 mark.
"The waning minutes of the game, Emily got loose again and got her hat trick," Boyd said. "Just really happy for her that she got that hat trick. It was very much a roll your sleeves up kind of game for our entire team. They've (NKU) got weapons all over the place … so what a game; what a nice result for us. Now we need to recover and get ourselves ready for Wright State, who is also very good."
In net,
Lauren Nidey was credited with three saves in the win. For the game, Milwaukee finished with advantages of 20-10 in total shots, the 5-4 edge in shots on goal, and 5-2 in corner kicks. Petring finished with six total shot attempts in her career-high scoring performance.
With the win, combined with a 2-1 victory by Wright State over Green Bay (who had been 3-0), the Panthers find themselves alone in first place in the Horizon League standings at the end of the evening. They will remain on the road for another tough battle, facing those same Raiders Sunday, set for a matinee at 12 p.m. CT.
