Midway through last week, the UW men's soccer team was riding high. Sporting a six-game unbeaten streak, ranked No. 22 nationally and perched atop the Big Ten conference standings, things couldn't have been going any better. Then Sunday afternoon, the Ohio State Buckeyes snapped the Badgers back to reality, handing them a 2-0 loss and a gut-check.
Now, with no unbeaten streak in tow, and only the memory of two Ohio State goals, the Badgers (7-4-2 overall, 2-1-1 Big Ten) look for redemption tonight against in-state foe Marquette. Entering tonight's match-up, Marquette is riding its own streak, and it is one the Badgers would rather not break. Marquette enters the game winless in its last 12 games and scoreless in its last five games.
With a measly 1-11-1 record, Marquette would love to notch its second victory against a heavy favorite and in-state rival like Wisconsin. To ensure that no such fate befalls the Badgers, head coach Jeff Rohrman will look to his goalie and defense to secure the win.
Prior to the goal scored by Ohio State defender Dustin Kirby in the 27th minute, the Badgers had run its shutout streak to an impressive 464 minutes and 11 seconds of play. Clearly a stretch like that, which amounts to just over four games, requires solid defending, stellar goalkeeping and a little bit of luck.
Tonight, senior Jake Settle will handle the goalie duties for the Badgers, and it is safe to say he will be looking to start a new shutout streak. While Settle may be the last line of defense, he is by no means the only line. This year the Badger defense, led by Aaron Hohlbein and Hamid Afsari, has been downright rude to opposing strikers.
Through 13 games, the Badgers have allowed only eight goals and have not allowed more than two in any games this year (opposed to last year at this time, when the Badgers had allowed 21 goals in as many games). Considering Marquette's offensive output this season (being outscored 31-7 by opponents), Settle and the UW defense could put on a defensive clinic.
The Badgers know that, while good defense nearly ensures ties, it does not guarantee victory, and against Marquette it is safe to say the Badgers are looking for more than just a one-point draw. In the UW's first eight games, the Badger offense tallied 16 goals, averaging two per game, though in its last five games, the Badgers have managed only four goals. If the Badgers are to return to Madison tonight as winners, they will need someone to step up and put the ball in the net.
Assuming the Badger offense comes to play and the UW defense remains solid in the back, Wisconsin will likely use tonight's game as a springboard to build momentum for Sunday's conference match-up with Penn State. With only two games left in conference play, every point will be key in determining the conference champion.
