MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Milwaukee Area Technical College is proud to announce that assistant men's and women's soccer coach Sarah Sweeney, formerly Sarah Teegarden, has been selected to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 2025 Hall of Fame class for her outstanding career as a Panthers midfielder from 2005 to 2008.
"UW-Milwaukee was one of the most impactful times of my life, playing those four years there," Sweeney said. "It means so much to me that all that effort and development is being recognized. My coaches were amazing when I was there, and they're a big reason I got into coaching. I'm just really excited to be honored and to recognize all the people who helped me get here."
Sweeney wasted no time making an impact. As a freshman in 2005, she started all 22 matches, scored five goals and added an assist for 11 points. That performance earned her Soccer Buzz Freshman All-America Honorable Mention recognition and set the tone for a career that would become one of the most decorated in program history.
Over the next three seasons, Sweeney established herself as a cornerstone of Milwaukee's success. She was a two-time All-American and earned All-Horizon League First Team honors in each of her four years — a distinction achieved by only seven others in league history at the time.
Her final season in 2008 was the pinnacle of her career. Sweeney capped her time in the Black and Gold by earning Third Team National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas All-America honors and was also recognized as an NSCAA Scholar All-American for her excellence in the classroom.
That senior campaign helped propel Milwaukee to one of its most successful seasons ever. The Panthers finished 18-3-2, climbed to a program-best No. 16 national ranking, and set school records with 65 goals, 70 assists and 200 points. Their .864 winning percentage remains one of the highest in program history.
It was a fitting conclusion to a career defined by winning. With Sweeney in the midfield, Milwaukee captured four consecutive Horizon League regular-season titles, posting a dominant 27-1-2 record in conference play during that stretch for a .933 winning percentage. The Panthers also claimed three league tournament championships and earned three NCAA Tournament berths, advancing to the second round in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Overall, Milwaukee compiled a 59-16-13 record (.744 winning percentage) during Sweeney's tenure, cementing her place among the program's all-time greats and underscoring her impact as both a leader and a consistent difference-maker on the field.
Individually, Sweeney started all 86 matches of her career — a school record that still stands to this day. She recorded 42 points on 17 goals and eight assists, while attempting 180 shots. Her 86 appearances still rank among the top three in program history.
She also had a reputation for delivering in clutch moments. Of her 17 career goals, 11 were game-winners, making her one of the most clutch players in Milwaukee history. As a sophomore, she scored five game-winners, tying the school's single-season record at the time.
From her immediate impact as a freshman to her record-setting consistency as a senior, Sweeney's career was defined by excellence. Her induction into the UW-Milwaukee Hall of Fame is a testament not only to her individual achievements but also to the championship culture she helped build during one of the most successful eras in Panthers soccer history.
"I think it's fantastic that Sweeney is getting the recognition she deserves," MATC head soccer coach Aron "Buddy" Gentry said of his assistant. "She was a huge part of that program from the start, and her class was really integral to its success. We are so lucky to have her at MATC, and this is just another example of why we're so fortunate to have her."
