The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's soccer team found themselves trailing by two goals late in the game, but fought through the adversity, scoring two goals, forcing the game into overtime. The Warhawks and Blugolds battled it out in overtime, remaining in a tie after two OT periods. The Blugolds advanced in the PK, 3-2.

Like their meeting earlier in the season, the Warhawks outpaced the Blugold offense and kept the pressure up to start the game. In the previous game, the Warhawks could not find the back of the net in the 0-0 draw. But just like last time, the Warhawks jumped out of the gate with the pressure on the Blugolds. UW-Whitewater put on seven shots on goal in the first half and only allowed two shots on goal from UW-Eau Claire. 

Despite the high-pressure offense from the Warhawks, the Blugolds were the ones who struck first. They found the crease in the defense with two touch passes for the game-opening goal.

The Warhawks did not waste any time answering back. Only a minute after the UWEC goal, Gianna Zamborini (Louisville, Ken/duPont Manual) made a nice move past a defender that led to a Warhawks goal to tie the game up. 

Both teams battled it out for the last few minutes of the half, but the game entered the break tied.

The second half started out slow for both teams, with UW-Whitewater only recording two shots at the halfway mark, and the Blugolds at zero.

The Blugolds went ahead with about 20 minutes left, with Sydney Spencer grabbing her second goal of the night. UW-Eau Claire added on one more goal, putting the Warhawks down 3-1 with only 10 minutes remaining.

Despite the deficit and time running out, the Warhawks were not going down without a fight. With less than nine minutes on the clock, Zamborini passed it out to Megan Howard (Lakeland, Minn./Stillwater Area) on the wing, who gave a first-touch cross to Juliana Madonia (Schaumburg, Ill./James B. Conant) for a Warhawk goal, closing the Blugold lead to just one goal.

In the win-or-go-home situation, the Warhawks looked for the tying goal. They were able to find it after putting pressure on the Blugold defense. Zamborini chipped the ball from nearly 30 yards out, connecting with Allie Prigge (Palatine, Ill./Fremd). Prigge dove underneath, heading the ball just right for it to bounce under the hands of the goalie and the foot of a Blugold defender for the tying goal.

The Warhawks tacked on a few more attempts to finish the game in regulation but could not find the back of the net in the final minutes, forcing the game into overtime.

In overtime, the Warhawks had all the momentum, with the ball staying in their zone for the majority of the time. However, neither team could find the back of the net, sending the game into second overtime.

In the second overtime, the Blugolds spent the majority of the time in their offensive end. But the Warhawks had a great look on goal with Emily Thill (West Chicago, Ill./St. Francis) taking a shot that bounced off the crossbar. 

With four minutes left in the second overtime, Prigge drew a foul deep in the offensive zone. The Warhawks lined up for the free kick, but it got blocked by the Blugolds, sending UWEC on a counterattack. The Warhawks defended excellently, closing down the attack and not allowing a shot. 

However, two overtimes were not enough to finish the game, sending the game into PKs. 

After missing their first two shots and UWEC making theirs, Emily Thill (West Chicago, Ill./St. Francis) and Gigi Zamborini connected on theirs to keep the Warhawks alive in the PK. The Blugolds scored on their next attempt, and the goalie made the save, advancing to the next round of the WIAC Tournament.

Zamborini recorded a goal and two assists in the outing. On the defensive end, Jude Dobrinska (Milwaukee, Wis./Ronald Reagan College Prep) made one save in her 76 minutes with Emma Hager (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey) finishing up the last 34 minutes of the game. 

With UWEC advancing the PKs, the Warhawk Women's Soccer 2023 season comes to a close.