The Wisconsin Badgers (3-3-4, 0-1-1 Big Ten) opened Big Ten play in Madison with a 1-1 tie against No. 19 Ohio State (6-2-1, 0-0-1 Big Ten) Friday and a 1-0 loss to No. 16 Penn State (5-2-2, 1-0-1 Big Ten) Sunday afternoon.
Friday, the Badgers faced off against the Buckeyes, and did not score at all during the first half. After falling behind 1-0, seniors Micaela Powers and Rose Lavelle scored back-to-back goals to start the second half.
Powers notched her third goal of the season, which leads the team, and also assisted on Lavelle’s first goal of the campaign.
"It was definitely a relief," Lavelle said of the goal. "It has kind of been a weight on my shoulders. Hopefully more will come the rest of the season."
Ohio State’s Nikki Walts tied the game in the 85th minute, and neither team was able to capitalize on any chances in the two periods of overtime that followed.
Sunday’s game was a defensive battle between the Badgers and the Nittany Lions, with Camryn Biegalski leading the way for the Badgers defensively.
Head coach Paula Wilkins praised the freshman defender’s effort in suffocating Penn State’s offense and limiting them to seven shots and five shots on goal.
“What [Biegalski] does really well is that she’s able to get up and down the flank and be really dangerous in that way,” Wilkins said. “To be honest, I think she’s going to get better and better and better with time and I think she might be one of the best backs in the history I’ve had here. I’m just excited she brings that offensive element—that really helps us moving forward.”
In the 72nd minute, Penn State’s Marissa Sheva nailed a header into the top corner of the net, putting the Nittany Lions into the lead, 1-0.
Ten minutes later, the Badgers earned a penalty kick, but the shot by Lavelle hit the crossbar and the resulting rebound shot by Biegalski went wide.
Wisconsin was unable to find the equalizer as the clock wound down, leaving the final score at 1-0 in favor of Penn State.
Redshirt junior goaltender Caitlyn Clem finished the game with four saves, while Penn State’s Amanda Dennis had three. Powers led the Badgers in shots with four.
Next up for the Badgers is a road trip to Indiana, where they will face Purdue Sept. 23 and Indiana Sept. 25.
“It was a rough loss today and I think we outplayed them most of the game, but we’re going to get at it this week and hopefully be ready to go next weekend,” Biegalski said. “From here out, it’s grind time. I think we can win from here on out.”
