After notching its first home win Sunday, the UW men's soccer team looks to extend its home winning streak to two Wednesday. Facing in state and non-conference rival UW-Milwaukee, the Badgers and Panthers kick off tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the McClimmon Soccer Complex.
The Badgers enter tonight's game sporting a 4-3 record while the Panthers come to town with a 3-5 record. The teams have seen a lot of one another this season, though until tonight have yet to face off to claim in-state dominance.
Head coach Jeff Rohrman said of the match-up, ""We know UWM as well as any team. We spent the first three weekends together so there are no secrets. You know you've got bragging rights in-state that are at stake so it's always a fun game for the fans. It's a fun game for the players. We know what they're about and I know the guys are very eager to get going.
In such a young season, the Badgers and Panthers have traveled, hosted and played a number of the same teams. Wisconsin and UWM have six opponents in common already with the Badgers recording wins over Tulsa, Lipscomb and IPFW. Similarly, the Panthers have recorded wins against IPFW and Lipscomb, while Washington, SMU and Creighton downed both teams.
Since the series began in 1977, the Badgers and Panthers have squared off 30 times, with UWM leading the rivalry 15-11-4, including a 2-0 victory in Milwaukee last season. In tonight's game, the Badgers look to avenge last seasons' devastating loss and build on the overtime victory over Michigan.
One thing is for sure if the Badgers hope to snatch a victory away from the Panthers, Wisconsin will look to the man standing in net to ensure a win. Senior goalkeeper Jake Settle (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) is currently playing at a marvelous form. Allowing a miniscule .72 GAA, saving .808 percent of all shots faced and recording three shutouts, Settle will certainly be the key to the game.
UWM is a defensive minded team as well led by sophomore defenseman Travis Phillips, a Deforest, Wis. native, and sophomore goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum.
As it has been of late at home for the Badgers (back-to-back home overtime games), the game may come down to a managerial substitution that pushes Wisconsin past UWM. If that is the case, look for a pair of freshman forwards, Scott Lorenz (Barrington, Ill.) and Eric Conklin (Rockford, Ill.) to be the potential difference makers. As the only two players to come off the bench in all seven games this season, Lorenz and Conklin are well versed in providing a much-needed spark to the Badger offense.
If things do go to overtime, it is important to note that UWM is 0-5-5 in its last 10 overtime games, a stat that certainly favors the Badgers.
