Northwestern
Milwaukee
Northwestern Continues Non-Conference Play against Milwaukee and Butler
8/27/2025 4:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern women's soccer will continue non-conference play with a pair of matchups this weekend. The Wildcats will travel to Milwaukee on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+ before returning home to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on Sunday against Butler at 1 p.m. CT on B1G+.
Northwestern boasts a 19-4-5 record (.768 winning percentage) in regular season non-conference play since 2022. Northwestern's 19 regular season non-conference wins are second-most among Big Ten teams over that span.
Sophomore forward Kennedy Roesch leads the 'Cats with two goals through four games on the season. In her rookie campaign, the San Diego, Calif. native tallied six goals, the most by a Wildcat first-year since 2010 (Kate Allen, six). The 'Cats are 5-0-3 in games that Roesch tallies a goal.
Last time out, Northwestern played to a 1-1 draw with Kent State in its home opener. NU took a 1-0 lead on Roesch's second goal of the season in the 77th minute, but KSU equalized in the 79th minute to tie the game. NU outshot the Golden Flashes 16-5, including a 7-1 edge in shots on goal.
SCOUTING MILWAUKEE
Thursday's game will mark head coach Michael Moynihan's first time facing off against his former school. Moynihan began his career at Milwaukee as an assistant coach under his sister Sue in 1993, before taking over as head coach in 1997. Milwaukee's soccer field is named Laura Moynihan Field at Engelmann Stadium after Michael's mother, who was a pioneer for the sport of women's soccer in Wisconsin and head coach at Milwaukee before passing away in 1992.
In 15 seasons at Milwaukee, Michael Moynihan posted a 193-84-38 (.673) record, including an 86-8-5 (.894) mark in Horizon League play. During Moynihan's tenure in Milwaukee, the Panthers won 13 Horizon League Championships (12 straight from 2000-2011), eight Horizon League Tournament Titles and appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments. Moynihan was named Horizon League Coach of the Year eight times.
Thursday's meeting will mark the 11th meeting in program history between the 'Cats and Panthers, with the series tied at 4-4-2. Michael dhas been on the Milwaukee sideline for all 10 previous meetings.
Milwaukee (1-3) has already faced a pair of Big Ten foes on the season, dropping contests to No. 23 Wisconsin and No. 20 Michigan State. Zoey Pagels (two goals) and Ashlyn Skinner-Barrett (one goal, two assists) power the Panthers offensively, while Lily Hanke and Bella Hollenbach have both seen time at goalkeeper this season.
SCOUTING BUTLER
The 'Cats will return to Evanston on Sunday for a meeting with Butler. Northwestern leads the all-time series 5-1-1. Last meeting, Northwestern beat the Bulldogs 1-0 in Evanston on Sunday, September 11, 2022.
Butler (2-0-1) tied in its other meeting with a Big Ten side this season, drawing 1-1 at Purdue. Leila Lister and Talia Sommer both pace Butler with two goals and three assists apiece.
UP NEXT
Northwestern will wrap up non-conference play next Thursday, September 4 with a road trip at TCU at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
