(GREEN BAY ATHLETICS) FORT WAYNE, IND – The Green Bay women’s soccer team came back from behind multiple times Sunday afternoon to take down the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons but a final score of 3-2. With the win, the Phoenix have locked down the Horizon League No. 2 seed and will host a Horizon League Semifinal game at Aldo Santaga Stadium for the first time in program history on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Green Bay trailed 2-1 late in the second half on Sunday before Laney Stark scored her seventh and eighth goals of the season in the 76th and 82nd minutes to put the Phoenix ahead. Green Bay would hold on to that 3-2 lead to secure the three points.
The win is Green Bay’s 12th of the season, which the program has done only twice before. It’s the first time the Phoenix has accumulated that many wins since 1993.
“Today really tested our will,” said head coach Matt Kagan. “Fort Wayne came out in and really battled. We had to come back twice in this game. The thing I told our team after the match is that they have an extremely resilient and strong mental toughness about them, and I thought that really pushed us through to find the game winner and see the game out.”
Kagan continued. “With the other results around the league, we clinched the second seed and a bye in the tournament, which is a much-needed thing for us moving forward so we can rest some players.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two teams battled for the first third of the game until Purdue Fort Wayne got the scoring started in the 35th minute thanks to a Dalia Sabet penalty kick goal. The Phoenix responded almost immediately with a penalty kick goal of their own. Rebecca Stoeckmann stepped up to the spot and buried the PK in the 38th minute to tie it before the half.
Purdue Fort Wayne responded right at the start of the second half when Scarlett Webster scored in the 49th minute. The Mastodons held that 2-1 lead for most of the second half until Stark’s brace turned the game on its head. After taking the lead in the 82nd minute, the Phoenix defense limited PFW chances and secured the win.
GAME NOTES
- Green Bay received two yellow cards.
- Anna Scott piled up three saves for the Phoenix out of nine total Mastodons shots.
- Green Bay outshot PFW 29-9 and 11-5 in shots on goal.
ON THE HORIZON
Green Bay is unable to catch Milwaukee at the top of the Horizon League standings, but they’ll take the Panthers on in their season finale next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Engelmann Stadium in Milwaukee.
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