The No. 16 Wisconsin women's soccer team hits the road this weekend to kick off the Big Ten portion of its schedule. The Badgers get things started Friday night when they travel to Iowa and cap off the weekend Sunday afternoon at Illinois.
Wisconsin carries a 5-2-1 record into Iowa City on Friday, a record that at first glance appears solid, but not spectacular. Take one look at the Badger's non-conference schedule, however, and their performance takes on a whole new meaning.
Wisconsin's eight non-conference opponents have combined to post a 41-16-9 mark thus far, and the three that either beat or tied the Badgers remain undefeated. The challenging non-conference schedule should have the Badgers well prepared for a grueling Big Ten campaign.
\We're extremely ready, because it's a whole new season,"" said head coach Dean Duerst.
That new season begins with an Iowa team that has struggled mightily in recent years. Iowa enters with a 1-5-2 record, and has failed to post a Big Ten win since it beat Illinois in 2002. This year, the Hawkeyes have netted only seven goals in eight games, last in the Big Ten, and have allowed 16 goals, most in the conference. Despite a long list of Iowa misfortunes, however, Duerst is confident his team won't be looking past Iowa.
""It's very important to stay focused,"" Duerst said. ""They know the importance of one game at a time in a conference race.""
Illinois (4-2-2), who was ranked No. 13 in the preseason polls just a few weeks ago, should prove to be a tougher match for Wisconsin. The Illini are especially tough at home, where they are 47-16-2 all time at Illinois Soccer Stadium. However, UW-Milwaukee, a 4-0 casualty of the Badgers last weekend, played Illinois to a 0-0 draw in Champaign earlier this season.
Wisconsin, whose 16 goals rank them second in the Big Ten, will rely on several players offensively this weekend. Amy Vermeulen leads the team with four goals and Katy Lindenmuth has three. Allison Preiss has racked up four assists to go along with a pair of goals. Taylor Walsh, who has two goals, both coming last Saturday against UWM, should also prove to be an offensive force as the Big Ten season progresses.
