Badgers advance to sweet 16!

Friday, November 19

Fairfax, Va

12:30 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

10-5-6, 3-3-4

UC Irvine

16-6-0, 8-2-0

UC Irvine

Wisconsin

Photo by: Greg Fiume

November 19, 2021 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

UW defeats UC Irvine 3-0 in second round of NCAA tournament

FAIRFAX, Va. — The Wisconsin women's soccer team punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 of the 2021 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship t with a 3-0 victory over UC Irvine on Friday at George Mason Stadium.

The Badgers (10-5-6) scored twice in the first half and added an insurance tally in the second to secure their 10th victory of the season.

Natalie Viggiano scored in the top right of the goal on a free kick in the 22nd minute of the first half, netting her third goal of the NCAA tournament and putting the Badgers up 1-0.

📺: ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/Uuxew2GSvS
— Wisconsin Soccer (@BadgerWSoccer) November 19, 2021

Joyelle Washington found the back of the net off a pass from Viggiano in the 26th minute, tapping the ball in for a two-goal lead over the Anteaters (16-6) heading into the second half.

pic.twitter.com/wKynNhIVCy
— Wisconsin Soccer (@BadgerWSoccer) November 19, 2021

UW outshot UC Irvine 10-1 in the first half and received one corner kick opportunity.

Izzy Verdugo joined in on the scoring fun, scoring her first career goal as a Badger off a feed from Maia Cella in the 71st minute to cap off the scoring for UW.

📺: ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/nsW5MiTMjh
— Wisconsin Soccer (@BadgerWSoccer) November 19, 2021

Wisconsin outshot UC Irvine 14-7 and led 4-1 in corner kick opportunities. Goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer made four saves in net to shutout UC Irvine 3-0 and help the Badgers advance to the third round of the NCAA tournament.

Notes to Know

UW improved to 22-21-2 all time in NCAA tournament games.
The Badgers have advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the third time in the last four seasons and the fourth time in school history.
Viggiano is now tied for the team lead in goals with eight with Emma Jaskaniec.
Bloomer recorded her 9th shutout of the season
UW earned its 10th win of the season, marking the 11th time under UW head coach Paula Wilkins that the Badgers have collected double-digit wins in a season.

Straight from the Pitch
UW head coach Paula Wilkins

Hear what @PL_Wilkins had to say after the #Badgers advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16! pic.twitter.com/HKLCCder8r
— Wisconsin Soccer (@BadgerWSoccer) November 19, 2021

Up Next:
UW will face Santa Clara, last year's NCAA champions, on Sunday in a 12:30 p.m. CT contest at Shaw Field in Washington D.C. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+.