Thursday, October 16
Seattle, Wash.
8:00 p.m. PT
University of Washington
10-1-5, 7-0-2
3
vs
2
Minnesota
6-7-2, 2-5-2
1
2
F
Minnesota
2
0
2
Washington
1
2
3
Branson Strikes Late To Secure 3-2 Win Over Minnesota
October 17, 2025 | Women's Soccer
SEATTLE – The Washington women's soccer team found itself up a goal less than a minute into Thursday night's match with Minnesota but had to scrap and claw to overturn a first half deficit, stunning the Golden Gophers with a 3-2 comeback victory at Husky Soccer Stadium.
Senior duo Avery Nguyen and Kelsey Branson provided the first half heroics, Hitting the back of the net in the 60th and 81st minutes to overturn the result.
Washington outshot the Gophers 21-8, including a 15-4 barrage in the second half.
It took just 43 seconds for the Huskies to push ahead. Mere moments after the kickoff, Jadyn Holdenried and Lucy Newlin teamed up to spring Alex Buck behind the Minnesota back line. One-on-one, the sophomore tipped the ball past a charging Sarah Martin, slotting the ball into the vacant goal to make it 1-0 UW.
Washington continued to boss possession in the early minutes, but Minnesota punched back in the 16thminute on a headed goal by Caroline Birdsell.
25 minutes later, the Huskies found themselves behind on Mariah Nguyen goal in the 41st minute.
Going into the second half trailing for the first time in 2025, Washington flipped the script in the second 45, peppering the Minnesota goal and turning zero points into three.
Nguyen brought the score level in the 60th minute with arguably the goal of the season for Washington. Dribbling past multiple defenders at the top of the 18, the Kansas native unleashed a bullet towards the upper 90, clattering off the crossbar and in to knot things up at two goals apiece.
The Huskies continued to swarm and it paid off in the 81st as Branson latched onto a spilled ball inside the six, slipping a shot between Martin's legs to bag the late-winner, extending Washington's winning streak to five matches.
The Dawgs remain home on Sunday for Senior Day at Husky Soccer Stadium, celebrating the seven-member senior class before taking on Wisconsin for a 1:00 p.m. PT kickoff. The match will air to a national audience on the Big Ten Network.
For more information on Husky Women's Soccer, follow @UW_WSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.
Senior duo Avery Nguyen and Kelsey Branson provided the first half heroics, Hitting the back of the net in the 60th and 81st minutes to overturn the result.
Washington outshot the Gophers 21-8, including a 15-4 barrage in the second half.
It took just 43 seconds for the Huskies to push ahead. Mere moments after the kickoff, Jadyn Holdenried and Lucy Newlin teamed up to spring Alex Buck behind the Minnesota back line. One-on-one, the sophomore tipped the ball past a charging Sarah Martin, slotting the ball into the vacant goal to make it 1-0 UW.
Washington continued to boss possession in the early minutes, but Minnesota punched back in the 16thminute on a headed goal by Caroline Birdsell.
25 minutes later, the Huskies found themselves behind on Mariah Nguyen goal in the 41st minute.
Going into the second half trailing for the first time in 2025, Washington flipped the script in the second 45, peppering the Minnesota goal and turning zero points into three.
Nguyen brought the score level in the 60th minute with arguably the goal of the season for Washington. Dribbling past multiple defenders at the top of the 18, the Kansas native unleashed a bullet towards the upper 90, clattering off the crossbar and in to knot things up at two goals apiece.
The Huskies continued to swarm and it paid off in the 81st as Branson latched onto a spilled ball inside the six, slipping a shot between Martin's legs to bag the late-winner, extending Washington's winning streak to five matches.
The Dawgs remain home on Sunday for Senior Day at Husky Soccer Stadium, celebrating the seven-member senior class before taking on Wisconsin for a 1:00 p.m. PT kickoff. The match will air to a national audience on the Big Ten Network.
For more information on Husky Women's Soccer, follow @UW_WSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
UMN
UW
Goals
2
3
Shots
8
21
Shots on Goal
4
6
Saves
3
2
Corners
1
3
Fouls
11
11
Scoring Plays
Alex Buck (4)
Assisted By: Jadyn Holdenried , Lucy Newlin
GOAL by UW Buck, Alex Assist by Holdenried, Jadyn and Newlin, Lucy.
00:43
Caroline Birdsell (4)
Assisted By: Sawyer Danielson , Tatiana Cunningham
GOAL by UMN Birdsell, Caroline Assist by Danielson, Sawyer and Cunningham, Tatiana.
15:21
Mariah Nguyen (3)
GOAL by UMN Nguyen, Mariah.
40:23
Avery Nguyen (2)
GOAL by UW Nguyen, Avery.
59:59
Kelsey Branson (5)
GOAL by UW Branson, Kelsey.
80:09
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerWashington 1, Wisconsin 0 | Huskies Highlights
Sunday, October 19
Washington 3, Minnesota 2 | Huskies Highlights
Friday, October 17
SECURED THAT DUB by Kelsey Branson
Friday, October 17
Second Goal from Avery Nguyen
Friday, October 17
