WHITEWATER, WI — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater celebrated Senior Day with a win, defeating Grinnell 2-0 on Friday in the Warhawks home opener. The Warhawks scored both goals after halftime and finished with a 24-2 advantage in shots, including 9-1 on goal. UW-Whitewater has scored at least two goals in five consecutive games to begin the 2026 season.
The Warhawks generated steady first-half pressure, taking 16 shots and five corner kicks while the teams stayed scoreless. The home side pressed immediately with corners at 0:49 and 1:13 around two
Anna Gunderson (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) attempts, then added looks from
Lilli Rick (Janesville, Wis./Janesville Craig) and Gunderson after the Pioneers earned three early corners of their own.
UW-Whitewater kept creating after a physical middle stretch, with
Leah Dehne (Waterford, Wis./Waterford) hitting the left woodwork at 22:18 and forcing a bottom-center save by Peyton Dixon at 29:02, while
Jasmine Wilson (Sussex, Wis./Sussex-Hamilton) also put a shot on frame in the 27th minute.
The pressure continued late as
Karina Osborn (Arena, Wis./River Valley),
Brinley Dunsirn (Appleton, Wis./North),
Berkley Dylla (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South) and
Brooklynn Carlson (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) were part of a run of shots from the 34th through 43rd minutes, including three forcing three Pioneer saves and a team save, but the half ended tied 0-0.
Early in the second half, the Warhawks turned a 0-0 match into a 2-0 lead, with
Rowan Severson (Mount Horeb, Wis./Mount Horeb) scoring from
Genevieve Simkowski (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest) at 49:08 and
Abby LaMere (Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame) finishing a Dehne assist at 53:09.
Earlier in that push, Simkowski put a shot wide in the 48th minute, then added another attempt in the 64th as the Warhawks continued to create chances after the goals.
Lauren Ripley (Brookfield, Wis./East) protected the margin with a save on the Pioneers' shot in the 61st minute, and the Warhawks added later looks from
Jenna Laidlaw (Aberdeen, Scotland/Aberdeen Grammar), Carlson and
Tessa Czajkowski Higgins (Prairie du Chien, Wis./Prairie du Chien). UW-Whitewater finished the half with seven shots while holding the Pioneers to two and closed out a 2-0 win.
After the game, the Warhawks recgonized their three seniors.
Anna Gunderson (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago),
Nicole Riberich (Reedsburg, Wis/Reedsburg), and
Lilli Rick (Janesville, Wis./Janesville Craig).
The Warhawks head back out on the road for their next game, facing NOrth Central on Tuesday, September 15th. Kick off in Naperville, Illinois is set for 7 PM
