Bilbia scores twice in the first half
RACINE, Wisc. — The NMU women’s soccer team earned its first GLIAC win of the season, downing the Pakside Rangers 3-0.
Initially set for Wood Road Field in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the game was moved to the turf field at Pritchard Park in Racine, Wisconsin. The move was made due to heavy rain in the area, making the grass field at Wood Road a dangerous surface.
The Wildcats (4-3-1, 1-3-0 GLIAC) snapped a three-game losing streak thanks to a brace from senior captain Madison Bilbia and the second goal of the campaign from Lily Senese.
After not scoring in three straight, the ‘Cats were able to knock three past the Rangers, all in the first half. Entering the match, the Rangers (5-2-1, 3-1-0 GLIAC) were unbeaten in four straight matches, where they did not concede a goal in any of those matches. Bilbia’s first goal of the day was the first goal the Rangers allowed since the 81st minute of the 2-1 loss to St. Louis on September 2, 2026.
“What a way to bounce back after a disappointing game on Friday!” added head coach Erin Egolf when speaking to nmuwildcats.com after today’s match. “That’s the response we needed, and we got it. Great performance today.”
Bilbia scored the opening two goals for the Wildcats, her first two goals of the 2026 campaign and the second brace of her Wildcat career. Bilbia first finished off a great long ball from Emma Kastamo just five minutes into the match, before gathering the ball on the left side and cutting into the middle of the park and hammering a goal to the left side with her right foot.
Lily Senese added her second goal of the season, scoring in the 36th minute of the first half after finding a loose ball from a deep free kick off the foot of Riley Hill. Senese was also shown a yellow card, her first of the season.
Goalkeeper Carly Sides earned her second shutout of the 2026 season. The back line of Ava Buhlman, Riley Hill, Irene Kiilunen, and Madalyn Nissen did a great job of denying the Rangers any quality looks, all of whom played the full 90 minutes and only allowed one shot on target.
“We’ve seen it from this group, we can compete at a high level, and today we showed that. [Bilbia] got us off the mark with a stellar goal early in the game, then to see her back herself again later in the first half was tremendous. She’s done so much work this season and has been a threat in every game, so nice to see her rewarded. Lily added another quality goal, and then we played a tough second half to shutout. Parkside is a good team, and they competed well, but we earned that win and clean sheet today. We have to take this performance and apply it to every game moving forward. Tremendously proud of the group!”
Midfielders Gretchen Ellis (79) and Sole Corley (74) logged solid shifts in the middle of the field, and forwards Alyse Daavettila (72) and Bilbia (71) both turned in good shifts. Addison Frantti (52) and Kastamo (41) rounded out the starting 11.
The ‘Cats used six players off the bench today, highlighted by Senese’s goal in 38 minutes of action. Both Izzy Armstrong and Marena Maceroni logged 32 minutes, and Cecelia Wille added 26 minutes in the midfield. Ema Delgado (13) and Isabella Lorens (10) rounded out the ‘Cats who saw action.
The Wildcats were clinical on the attack today; despite being outshot 8-14, the Wildcats held a severe advantage in shots on frame at 7-1.
