Three goals in an eight-minute span of the second half
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Wildcats opened the 2026 campaign with one of the more memorable matches in recent memory, with a three-goal comeback to shock #16 St. Cloud State.
The Wildcats conceded 30 minutes into the match to go down 1-0 at halftime, then gave up the 2-0 goal 23 minutes into the half to go down by a pair. What followed was a stunning turn of events in favor of the Wildcats.
Cecilia Willie scored less than a minute later to get one back for the Green and Gold, and then some phenomenal offensive pressure from Izzy Armstrong on the Huskies’ netminder forced a turnover for a tap-in, bringing the ‘Cats level with less than 20 minutes to go.
Minutes later, Isabella Lorens gained possession of the ball down the right-hand side and drove into the attacking area before serving in a high in-swinging ball. A towering header from Lily Senese put the Wildcats ahead, completing the comeback with a highlight-reel goal and stunning the Huskies with a trio of tallies in just eight minutes of playing time.
The Wildcats would hold down the fort for the final 12 minutes and change, walking away with a huge victory over a tough in-region opponent.
“It doesn’t get any more exciting than that, does it? I am so dang proud of this team,” added head coach Erin Egolf in her post-match media availability. “Going down a goal is hard, and going down two goals puts you in a huge hole, and to be able to come back from that and do what we just did is special, and I think it speaks a lot to their mentality.”
While the starting eleven played a key role down the stretch, all of the Wildcat scoring came from bench substitutions. Freshmen Willie and Armstrong both logged 21 minutes and notched a goal in their collegiate debut, and Senese and Lorens both logged just north of half an hour.
Egolf had the luxury of playing every healthy student-athlete during the preseason, and that preparation paid off, as the reserves played a key role in providing the spark needed to get this one over the line.
“We’ve talked all preseason about the lift we’ve gotten off the bench in our exhibition games, and it showed again today. That’s why you never know when your time’s going to come, and you’ll always have to be prepared. Our bench did a great job; the girls coming onto the field did a great job; our bench energy was electric as well, and everyone had a job to do today.
“I can’t say enough about our depth. What we saw today was a small subsection of what we’re going to see throughout the course of the season. We have a lot of good players and a lot of competition, and again, the resilience that we had to come and fight back is incredible.”
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A key standout from the bench was Marquette native, senior Isabella Lorens, who notched her first two Wildcat assists. Lorens had a major impact, not only delivering assists on the ‘Cats opening tally and the cross on the game-winning goal, but winning battles and producing opportunities in the offensive zone.
“[Bella’s] been very, very good this preseason. We know what she has to offer: she’s exciting going forward, she’s a hard worker, she likes to face up and take players on, and she did that very successfully today. Not only with the assists, but she also won us some corners, and so I’m proud of that kid. She did a really nice job for us today and made a difference.”
The ‘Cats now look to carry momentum through the weekend, as the Green and Gold await the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Sunday, August 30, at 12 p.m. ET from the NMU Soccer Field.
