Before the Wisconsin women's soccer team took on Northwestern Friday afternoon, they did not know whether or not they would be headed for the Big Ten tournament, which begins this afternoon in Ann Arbor, Mich. Only the top eight conference teams qualify, and the Badgers needed one more win. After disposing of the Wildcats 1-0, the Badgers got the best news of all.
Not only did Wisconsin (3-6-1 Big Ten, 10-8-2 overall) qualify for the Big Ten tournament, but they garnered the seventh seed, avoiding the dreaded eighth seed by virtue of their head to head victory over Michigan. By avoiding the eighth seed, Wisconsin escaped a first round match-up with undefeated and No. 1 Penn State in the first round. Instead, Wisconsin will take on No. 20 and second-seeded Purdue (7-2-1, 11-6-1) today at 2:30 p.m.
'We got a gift with the bracket,' sophomore goaltender Lynn Murray said. 'It's still going to be hard and we're still going to have to work for it, but it made our hopes and dreams completely possible.'
While the Badgers got lucky in avoiding Penn State, Purdue will be no pushover. The Boilermakers toppled the host Badgers 1-0 with a goal in the final minute earlier this season. Purdue is led by one of the most potent offensive duos in the conference in freshman Jessica Okoroafo and senior Lauren Sesselman. The two have combined for 19 goals and 45 points on the season, helping to make the Boilermakers the second-highest scoring team in the Big Ten.
If ever there was a time for Wisconsin to make a run in the tournament, however, it would be now. The Badgers, winners of four straight games in which they outscored their opponents 12-2, believe they are up for the challenge.
'One of your goals is to be playing your best soccer toward the end, which is very important in terms of confidence,' head coach Dean Duerst said. 'Right now we're playing our best soccer.'
With the Badgers on the bubble for an NCAA tournament bid, the team may have to win the Big Ten tournament in order qualify. But the Badgers are confident that can be accomplished.
'If you win that first game, you use that emotion and that confidence,' Duerst said. 'Right now the Big Ten is wide open. You look at how the bracket is put together, and to avoid Penn State until the final would be wonderful.'
'What we're doing,' Duerst said, 'is we're catching some breaks and catching our stride.'
