MADISON, WISC. - A five-goal outburst in Saturday's home opener resulted in a the season's first win for Madison College women's soccer after they defeated Rochester Community & Technical College by a 5-3 final at Irwin A. & Robert. D. Goodman Pitch-East. Four different players scored a goal in the win, including two goals from sophomore Suzy Hinds Cruz. The WolfPack now boast a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series with the Yellowjackets, who entered the game ranked #10 in the NJCAA Division III Preseason Poll. 

Rochester Community & Technical College (1-2) got the scoring started with a 17' scoring strike off a free kick just beyond the top of the penalty box. It remained a 1-0 game until the 25' when sophomore Ava Schmidt converted a pass from Reese Brekke to tie it at 1-1. Brekke controlled a free ball and headed a pass into the penalty area, where Schmidt darted in uncontested and slammed home a goal off her right foot. 

The WolfPack took the lead for good in the 36', and again it was the result of some terrific passing by Brekke. The second year transfer and native of Stoughton, Wisconsin, threaded a pass to freshman forward Emlyn Knutson, who then blew past a RCTC defender and goalkeeper for an easy kick into a wide open net.

Six minutes later, Brekke was able to do some scoring of her own as she converted a penalty kick to give the Pack a 3-1 advantage heading into halftime. The penalty was the result of a tackle on Brekke as she worked the ball into the penalty box from the right side.



The second half saw Rochester close the gap to a single goal with a 56' kick that got past goalkeeper Kaelyn Welch. The 3-2 differential didn't last long as Hinds Cruz, an all-region midfielder, took over with back-to-back goals in the 61' and 78'. The first saw Hinds Cruz take a Knutson pass, juke one defender with a move to her right, and then pinpoint a goal in the top-right corner. The second goal was the result of a successful header off a deflected free kick. 

The Yellowjackets closed the scoring with a goal in the 90' against Welch.



Brekke finished with a goal and two assists, accounting for the first four points of her career and her first goal as a member of the WolfPack after transferring from Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee. The goal by Schmidt, a native of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, is her first of the season and fourth of her career, while Knutson first collegiate goal give the former Sun Prairie East HS athlete a total of four points on the season.

Welch, a native of Monroe, Wisconsin, made four saves and allowed three goals en route to earning her first win of the season.

Up Next:

Madison College (1-0-1) continues with their weekend only schedule for one more week as they are off until traveling to Oakton College (1-2) for their Region 4 opener on September 6. The two teams have played just once before when the WolfPack won a 3-2 contest on the road in 2023. Kickoff from Des Plaines, Illinois, is set for 3:30 p.m.

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