ST. PAUL, Minn. – The opening round of the 2025 UMAC Women’s Soccer Tournament took place on Wednesday night as four teams competed in a pair of semifinal contests. The No. 1 seed Northwestern and No. 3 UW-Superior won its games to advance to the championship.
 
SEMIFINAL: No. 1 Northwestern def. No. 4 Minnesota Morris 8-1
| Box Score | 
Northwestern (11-5-3, 9-1-2 UMAC) hosted Minnesota Morris (5-12-3, 4-6-2) for their semifinal match. UNW took a 6-0 lead into halftime thanks to three goals in the frame by Haley Mersberger. Marie Kendall also had three assists in the stanza and later made a penalty kick at 32:29.

In the second half, Briella Babcock connected on a pass from Mersberger which found the back of the net at 58:14.

The Cougars’ tallied a late goal at 89:46.

Northwestern would go on to win 8-1.

The Eagles outshot Minnesota Morris 20-6 and held the 3-1 advantage in corner kicks.

The 10 points from Mersberger tied the single game record in the women’s conference tournament equalling Morgan Friday from St. Scholastica on May 5, 2021. Her three goals were two shy of the mark, set by Friday in that 2021 contest.

Kendall’s three assists also tied a tournament high, set by Niya Wilson and Mya Holmquist, each of UW-Superior, on Nov. 2, 2022. She finished with nine points, just one shy of the single mark by Friday and Mersberger.

The eight team goals tied single game record, which was set by Northwestern on Oct. 31, 2018. 
 
SEMIFINAL: No. 3 UW-Superior def. No. 2 Bethany Luther 3-0
| Box Score | 

Bethany Lutheran (9-8-2, 9-2-1 UMAC) hosted the University of Wisconsin Superior (10-7-4, 8-1-3) for their semifinal contest. The Yellowjackets won 3-0 to advance to the championship game.

UWS got on the board first on a goal from Niamh Larson, assisted by Kamryn Hill at 14:35. An own goal at 19:07 added to the Yellojacket lead.

Kamryn Hill tallied the final score at 81:24. Keeper Quinn Clark made four saves to earn the shutout.

UWS held the team advantage in shots (15-9), but the Vikings owned the corner kick margin at 4-0.

UW-Superior becomes the first team lower than a No. 2 seed to reach the women’s Championship since 2018. That year, the 'Jackets made the title game as a four seed. 

UP NEXT
 
Northwestern and UW-Superior will battle for the UMAC Championship title and the automatic bid to the NCAA DIII national tournament on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Eagle Stadium in Arden Hills, Minn. at 2 p.m.
 
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
 
• Semifinals: Wednesday, November 5
    - 5 PM | #4 Minnesota Morris at #1 Northwestern
        - FINAL: Eagles 8 Morris 1
            - Box Score | 
    - 4:30 PM | #3 UW-Superior at #2 Bethany Lutheran
        - FINAL: UWS 3, BLC 0
            - Box Score |
• Championship: Saturday, November 8
    - 2 PM | No. 3 UW-Superior at No. 1 Northwestern
        - Live Video | Live Stats
 
TICKETS

• $15 | Adults
• $10 | Seniors
• $10 | College Students
• $10 | Youth (Ages 6-18)
• Free | Ages 5 and Under
• Free | Any UMAC students, faculty, and staff with a valid and current institutional ID.
• No other passes will be accepted.