The regular season for the Badger men's soccer team (1-4-1 Big Ten, 4-12-2 overall) ended Saturday night. Hosting the Nittany Lions of Penn State (2-3-1 Big Ten, 11-6-1), the Badgers looked to close out the season on a positive note.
In a game that favored the Nittany Lions on paper, it was the Badgers who came out on top, downing No. 22 Penn State 1-0 and earning the first Big Ten win of the season.
Attacking the Badgers with dangerous, sustained pushes, the Nittany Lions clearly out-played Wisconsin early on.
The Penn State attack peaked when they were awarded a penalty kick on a controversial call. PSU superstar Corey Hertzog took the kick and despite the near automatic nature of a PK off the foot of such a tremendous player, the experienced striker was bested by Wisconsin's freshman keeper Max Jentsch.
""I just had to focus,"" Jentsch said. ""Luckily he shot it right down the middle and I got my legs to it.""
Giving up the penalty kick seemed to awaken the Badger offense. Attacking in the 27th minute, freshman forward Chris Prince battled for the ball near the Penn State endline. The Nittany Lion defender sent Prince to the ground inside the box, giving the Badgers their own chance at a penalty kick.
UW head coach John Trask selected senior defenseman Aaron Nichols to take the kick.
""We don't really tell the players who is going to take the penalty kicks,"" Trask said. ""It's a vibe within the team. Players have to feel it and, no question that Aaron felt it.""
Putting the ball in the upper left corner of the net, Nichols drove the shot home to give the Badgers the one-goal lead.
""It's a great feeling,"" Nichols said. ""You want to go out with a good memory. I think that was the best way to end my career here.""
Nichols' penalty-kick goal was all the Badgers needed to earn the victory, but the win did not come without its tense moments.
Penn State came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. The Nittany Lions brought the ball into the Wisconsin box on multiple occasions, ripping shots that sailed just wide of the net.
Sensing that their time was running out, Penn State was desperate to net a goal. The Nittany Lions were given a free kick just 20 yards from the goal. On a kick that curved over and around the defense, Jentsch was forced to make an excellent save on the ball to preserve the one goal lead. Riding on the solid play of Jentsch, the Badgers held on to win their first Big Ten game of the year.
""I don't think you could have written it any better,"" Jentsch said.
