MADISON, WISC. - The Madison College women's soccer team is 2-0 to start the 2023 season after Saturday's 2-1 defeat of Region 4 foe Prairie State College in the home opener at Irwin A. & Robert D. Goodman Pitch-East. The WolfPack have not won their first two matches of a season since 2019, a season that ended with the program's lone appearance in a national tournament. The win came in the first meeting ever with the Pioneers.

Madison College struck first with the only goal of the first half, converting on a set play from left of of the penalty box. After the initial kick towards to goal box, the ball was knocked around before sophomore Kierstin McHugh was able to fire off a shot toward the net. The Pioneers goalkeeper deflected the shot off the right post, sending it back towards to the middle of the net where fellow second year Mahala Frey raced in to score the uncontested goal in the 27'.

Still holding a 1-0 lead into the second half, the WolfPack added some insurance in the 75' with Atziry Ocampo's first collegiate goal. The freshman from Monroe, Wisconsin, was on the receiving end of a well-placed centering pass from first year forward Emma Purcell after the Pack created a turnover in the back third off a Prairie State College (0-1-1) throw in. Ocampo was able to get to the ball just ahead of a defender and the keeper to punch home the scoring strike. 



The shutout ended in the 84' when the Pioneers converted a WolfPack turnover near midfield into a left-footed goal from the penalty arc that curved past a diving Morgan Thompson and just inside the left post.

The goal for Frey, a Cross Plains, Wisconsin, native, is the third of her career, while McHugh now boasts two career assists. Purcell's helper is also the first of her career.

Thompson, a product of New Glarus, Wisconsin, was credited with a pair of saves. Madison College owned a 7-3 edge in total shots, with both teams placing three shots on goal. The WolfPack did earn ten corner kicks compared to just one for the Pioneers.

Up Next:

Madison College (2-0) is off until September 5 when they will travel to Rock Valley College (1-2-1). The former conference rivals will renew their head-to-head get-togethers as Division II region opponents after not playing last season. The all-time series is even at 8-8-1 through 17 meetings, however, the WolfPack is 8-2-1 in the last 11 matches going back to 2017. Kickoff in Rockford, Illinois, is set for 5:00 p.m. 

The match can be live streamed here.

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