With a burst of speed out of the gate that seemed like it would result in a definite dominating season, Wisconsin's Women's Soccer team got a little winded.
The Big Ten Schedule has been a little rough for the Badgers. After starting off the season with a 4-2-1 record, the team won its first Big Ten Game against Indiana and then proceeded to lose the next three, the last being a tough 2-1 game to Michigan State.
A huge problem for Wisconsin has been their lack of scoring. The Badgers have been outscored five-to-one during their losing streak. Senior Captain Jenny Kundert, who was selected to the First-Team All Big Ten and who leads the team in points, said that breaks just have not gone the right way for the Badgers.
\We've had some unlucky things go our way,"" Kundert said. ""Red cards, playing short handed for two games, two penalty kicks, and those are both our losses, by one goal.""
Coach Dean Duerst, who brought the team to the second round of the NCAA tournament a year ago, agrees that the team has not caught many breaks.
""We've scored goals that have been taken away and a referee sees a foul here and there,"" he said. ""Those hurt you in the long run after a few games that we haven't gotten results in.""
However, Duerst also sees that the team needs to capitalize better on their chances.
""It's just a matter of not finishing the dangerous opportunities that we've had,"" Duerst said. ""We've let teams score on us early and we're kind of in a desperate mode to score a goal so you have more pressure on yourself.""
There is a chance for redemption this weekend in Madison. The team will take on the women from Illinois, who are 4-0-1 in their last five games, on Friday and the red-hot Northwestern team, which has won three straight, on Sunday.
Sophomore forward Katy Lindenmuth, who ranks second to Kundert in points, said this weekend is going to be anything but easy.
""Illinois is a great team. Northwestern's kind of hot right now. They've won a bunch of games and are kind of on a roll,"" Lindenmuth said. ""It will be a test for us. We're just trying to stay positive and come out of it.""
Coach Dean Duerst stressed attacking the Illinois defense for Friday's game.
""The key is to get our forwards in line, to get our wing-mids in line and to get crosses in dangerously. They have a good keeper and you're going to beat her by taking her out of the equation.""
Coach Duerst also emphasized the need to improve ball movement.
""With Illinois you have to deal with their pressure. They're a good, organized defensive pressure team and so we just have to move the ball quickly.""
Kundert said that both of the team's weekend opponent's have to be pressured. ""We know that they both have very good defenses so we're going to go at them really hard and have high pressure up top.""
After two games on the road at rivals Michigan and Michigan State, the Badgers come home this weekend. The team is very excited to play in front of the Madison faithful.
""That's our home field advantage,"" Coach Duerst said. ""To be at home, where we're in our environment, and we're excited about the crowd, and we've got people behind us, always helps you in terms of motivating and coming out with a lot of energy. We need home field advantage at this point to sort of get us going.""
Lindenmuth feels that when the Badgers play in Madison, there is more on the line.
""You always want to play here,"" Lindenmuth said. ""Home games are huge because you're defending your home.""
This weekend is big for a Badger team that once looked like a title contender, and is now struggling to stay afloat in the competitive Big Ten division.
For Coach Duerst, though, it's simply a matter of maintaining their strategies as well as their aggressive energy.
""Win, lose, or draw this Friday, we just have to stick to it,"" Duerst said.
