Despite struggling to find the net Sunday afternoon against No. 17 Illinois, the Wisconsin women's soccer team (3-0-2 Big Ten, 6-3-4 overall)extended its unbeaten streak to 10 and brought its shutout streak to nine. The match, which ended 0-0 after 110 scoreless minutes, including two overtime periods, left the Badgers in a sour mood — one of displeasure at the missed opportunity for three points.
""Illinois is a very good team, but any time you could win, or you have chances to win — and probably just the same for them— you get disappointed, especially being home with a great atmosphere,"" head coach Paula Wilkins said.
The Badgers had considerable success attacking on the wings Sunday, as freshman midfielder Kodee Williams and junior forward Lauren Cochlin in particular outpaced their defenders and were able to send several quality crosses into the penalty area throughout the match. However, the Badgers had trouble getting numbers into the box and failed to connect on too many occasions.
""I think we were working hard on and off the ball, I think we just got caught playing defense some of the times that we could have gotten some good opportunities,"" Cochlin said. ""But I think we got caught playing defense a little much at times.""
The Badgers' best opportunity came in the 67th minute, after a UW throw-in. The two teams fought for the ball inside the penalty area, and after a short clearance fell to her, midfielder Alev Kelter ripped a hard, low shot.
But Illinois keeper Alexandra Kapicka was able to dive for the save, and the Badgers could not put together anything as promising until the final minute of regular time. In the 90th minute, junior forward Laurie Nosbusch found herself open at the top of the 18-yard box and let loose a shot low toward the far post, but the keeper made a routine save to send the match to extra time.
After two extra periods of end-to-end, flowing soccer, the match ended 0-0 and the Badgers walked away feeling like they let two points slip through their fingers. ""We're not happy with the result,"" Cochlin said. ""We really wanted a win out of that, but a tie is not the end of the world,"" said Cochlin.
Although the offense wasn't able to capitalize, the emphasis on defense proved to be successful, as UW was able to earn its ninth straight shutout, which ties the longest shutout streak in the team's history. The Badgers will have to continue their string of impressive defensive performances to shut down two good attacks in Ohio State and Penn State next weekend.
""We have five games left. This one's in the past, and we've got to move forward and focus on the next game,"" Wilkins said.
The Badgers currently sit in second place in the Big Ten, trailing only Ohio State, who they will meet in Columbus, Ohio Friday.
