The Wisconsin women's soccer team will bring their spring schedule to a close its weekend in Chicago at the inaugural Soldier Field KICKS Against Breast Cancer Women's Collegiate Soccer Invitational.
As a requirement to enter, each invitational team had to raise at least $1,000 for breast cancer research. The Badgers accomplished that and more April 5 during their mother-daughter clinic.
Many players on the team have been touched by breast cancer, including freshman Paige Adams.
""My mom had breast cancer, so it's a huge issue that I've been affected by,"" Adams said. ""The fact that we raised almost $2,000 to be a part of this tournament is a huge deal for me.""
Adams hopes the team continues to hold a mother-daughter clinic each year, and that this invitational will continue to grow while helping to spread awareness. Freshman Laurie Nosbusch, who had an outstanding first year with the Badgers, is also proud to be a part of this weekend.
""We have some girls on our team that have been personally affected by it,"" Nosbusch said. ""So obviously it's really important for them, but everyone on the team knows someone or knows of someone that's been affected by breast cancer. It's such a big problem for women today that anything we can do to raise money for it feels really great to help a cause other than us.""
The team will have the opportunity to play DePaul and in-state rival Marquette during the tournament, teams the Badgers beat in earlier spring games. The Marquette game is especially important because the Badgers open their 2009 season against them.
This weekend, head coach Paula Wilkins is looking for her team to show consistency and not stumble against teams they have shown are worse.
""I think that the consistency part is important,"" she said. ""I want to see the players step up into the major roles and we want to get some results always to earn respect from the region, but we also want to get better in a playing sense.""
The Badgers lose both their captains, seniors Jamie Klages and Taylor Walsh, to graduation this year and will depend on their younger players to contend next fall. Spring games and practices give coach Wilkins a chance to evaluate her players and see how they adjust. So far, she has been pleased.
""We've had some ups and downs this spring,"" Wilkins said. ""We've made some changes to our culture and some different ideas for what we're trying to do philosophically and the players have bought in to that pretty well. We've had some good results.""
The opportunity to play in Soldier Field and to help spread breast cancer awareness has the young Badgers excited. Two wins this weekend would wrap up a successful spring and leave the team well-prepared for next year.
""I think this is where you build the team for the fall, and so we made little steps to get closer to where we want to be,"" Wilkins said.
