Buck’s penalty delivers Big Ten regular season championship to Washington
HERALD SPORTS STAFF | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 months AGO
SEATTLE – In a moment 25 years in the making, the No. 17 Washington women's soccer team secured its first conference championship since 2000, according to a statement by University of Washington athletics. They claim the Big Ten Regular Season Championship with a 1-0 win over No. 15 Wisconsin at Husky Soccer Stadium on Sunday.
With a match in hand, the Huskies sit five points clear at the top of the league table with an undefeated record of 8-0-2 in league play, clinching the second conference championship in program history.
Sophomore Alex Buck delivered the decisive moment for the Huskies, converting a penalty kick in the 53rd minute. From there, the Dawgs did what they've done all season long, locking down the Badgers on the defensive end for their ninth clean sheet of the season.
In a drag-it-out dogfight of a defensive battle, the Huskies led Wisconsin on shots 9-4.
With offensive opportunities limited in the first half, the Huskies were the more threatening side.
After Badger keeper Drew Stover saved Jadyn Holdenried's shot from inside the box in the 27th minute, Buck nearly put UW ahead in the 41st, seeing her attempt cleared off the line by a Wisconsin defender.
Seven minutes after the restart, Buck was dragged down inside the 18-yard box. After a review confirmed the call, the Medina, Washington, native took the ball herself and fired a rocket into the bottom corner despite Stover getting a hand to the attempt.
With the lead in tow and a stout, organized defense behind the ball, the Huskies killed off the final 37:58 of the clock before flooding onto the field as the title celebrations commenced.
Locked in as the league's No. 1 seed, Washington will conclude the regular season next Sunday at Oregon before turning its attention to the Big Ten Tournament, with the quarterfinal round set for Nov. 2. in West Lafayette, Indiana.
BOX SCORE:
WISC: 0-0: 0
UW: 0-1: 1
ARTICLES BY HERALD SPORTS STAFF
Local athletes play in Columbia Basin series senior all-star baseball game
MOSES LAKE — The Sports Council and All-State Baseball announced in a press release that they are hosting the sixth annual Columbia Basin Series Senior All-Star Baseball Game presented by Central Industrial Sales. This annual showcase brings together standout seniors and celebrates the accomplishments of student-athletes from throughout the region. The game will be between some of the top graduating baseball players from across the Yakima Valley and Tri-Cities regions. The Yakima Valley team will consist of Moses Lake’s Noah Hernandez and Othello’s RJay Garza, Quade Gonzalez IV and Aiden Garza while being coached by Othello’s Head Coach Sonny Garza.
Wildcats qualify 11 for Outdoor Championships
INDIANAPOLIS – Central Washington University Track and Field put out a statement Tuesday to announce that 11 student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships running from Thursday, May 21 through Saturday, May 23 in Welch Stadium at Emporia State University. Eight female track and field student-athletes qualified. Layla Fields, Zoe Gonzales, and Ashlyn Nielsen all qualified as part of the 4x100m relay team while Donna Marie Harris and Carley Huber qualified as part of the 4x400m relay team. Julie Castillejo will be a relay alternative due to quick turnarounds from some individual events. Ellie DeGroot qualified as a member of the 4x400m relay team as well as for the 400m hurdles. Maliyah Gordon was a qualifier in the shot put. Elise Hopper will represent the crimson and black in four events: the 4x100m relay, the 4x400m relay, the 400m dash, and the 200m dash.
Wildcats athletics reveals 2026 Hall of Fame inductees
ELLENSBURG — On Monday, Central Washington athletics announced in a statement the names for the 2026 athletic Hall of Fame class. Jean and Joe Adams (Spirit of Central), Catie Fry (Volleyball), Zak Hill (Football), and Dr. Richard Roux (Meritorious Service).