MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Golden Grizzlies travel to Milwaukee for their first #HLWSOC Championship Semifinals appearance since 2021 as they take on the host team, the Milwaukee Panthers, in a win-or-go-home postseason match.

Oakland enters with momentum after a dramatic 1-0 quarterfinal win over Youngstown State on Nov. 1, lifted to victory by an overtime game-winning goal from Mallory Anderson. The Golden Grizzlies have not lost since Oct. 16, finding a rhythm at the perfect time of the season.

The upcoming semifinal marks the second meeting between the squads this season. The first matchup, back on Oct. 12 in Rochester, ended in a 0-0 draw. The Golden Grizzlies are one of just two Horizon League teams to draw with the Panthers and the only team to shut out the reigning league champs.

Milwaukee, hosting the championship tournament, has not played in over a week—bringing rest versus rust into the equation in what could be a perfect storm for a Golden Grizzlies upset.

The Panthers closed out the regular season below their usual dominant standard, going 2-0-2 in their last four matches. They are led by Player and Offensive Player of the Year Mallory McGuire, Goalkeeper of the Year Isabella Hollenbach, and Defensive Player of the Year Ellie Rebmann. Milwaukee features a total of eight All-League players on its roster.

Oakland is powered by a strong core of impact players in their first postseasons, including team-leading goal scorer and All-League Second Team defender Brae Cole. Quarterfinal hero Mallory Anderson enters the match with four goals on the season, while forward Isabella Bierod has also played well recently, scoring in two of the last three matches.

The semifinal match takes place on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET) and will be streamed on ESPN+.