(GREEN BAY ATHLETICS) GREEN BAY – The Green Bay women’s soccer team secured its third win and second shutout of the season after a 1-0 result against South Dakota in the 2026 home opener at Aldo Santaga Stadium Thursday night. With the win, the Phoenix moves to 3-0 on the season. It’s the first time the program has started 3-0 since the 1996 season.
Laney Stark scored the lone goal of the afternoon, her third of the season, to propel the Phoenix past the Coyotes.
“We are finding different ways to win early in the season,” said head coach Matt Kagan. “Today was a game we didn’t play our best in the first 45, but really flipped the game in the second half by our ball winning and ability to find pockets of space to move the ball quickly. Laney hit a great ball for the winner, and we played great defensively down the stretch!”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the first half, with both teams having similar opportunities throughout the first 45. Each team finished the half with three shots.
GB came out of the break firing, threatening the Coyotes’ goal a few times before Stark found the game-winner in the 51st minute. The play started off of a cleared South Dakota ball that fell to Ava Nielsen near the halfway mark. Nielsen found Aixa Helbringer-Escobar in the midfield, who released Ella Rogowski down the left-hand side. Rogowski drove into the South Dakota half before finding Stark, who cut inside on her right foot and placed a shot in the upper 90 past the SD keeper. Green Bay kept up the pressure offensively and never allowed the visitors a clear chance to equalize down the stretch. The Phoenix outshot South Dakota 5-1 in the second frame.
Goalkeeper Anna Scott recorded three saves on as many shots on target from the Coyotes in the shutout.
GAME NOTES
- Green Bay outshot South Dakota eight shots to four.
- Each team had three shots on goal.
- Senah Hanes’ three shots led either team.
- Laney Stark’s third goal of the season ties her for the team lead with Hanes.
- No cards were given out in the contest.
COMING UP
The Phoenix look to extend its historic start when they host Omaha on Sunday, August 23 at 1 p.m.
Men
Loyola Chicago 2, Green Bay 0
The Green Bay men’s soccer team lost its regular season home opener to Loyola Chicago 2-0 Thursday night. The Ramblers scored the game’s only two goals, first in the 52nd minute by Daniel Firs, assisted by Chimnosoh Okeke and Drazek Mateusz, and again in the 80th minute by Seth Stewart, assisted by Arved von Vegesack.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first half saw the Phoenix record five shots to Loyola’s two, with each team racking up eight fouls in the first 45 minutes. Green Bay kept the Ramblers off the board until a Daniel Firs goal gave Loyola Chicago their first lead of the game in the 52nd minute.
The Phoenix tried to bring the score even again, with seven shots from the offense, but a yellow card on Ty Perkins in the 80th minute led to a free kick that found Sal Stewart, who scored the second and final goal of the night en route to Loyola’s 2-0 victory.
GAME NOTES
- GB outshot Loyola 12-9.
- Loyola had seven corner kicks to Green Bay’s four.
- Drew Swancutt had three saves on nine shots faced from the Ramblers.
- Loyola registered 17 fouls to Green Bay’s 15.
- The loss marks the first time Green Bay has lost to Loyola Chicago at home since Sep. 6, 2000, with two wins and a tie in between.
COMING UP
Green Bay will begin its first road trip of the regular season when they travel to St. Paul, Minnesota, to take on St. Thomas at South Field on Sunday, August 23rd. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM CST.
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