As the Wisconsin women's soccer team took the field Monday night, it was an emotional moment for some. In their last regular season game of the year, the Badgers hosted the Wildcats of Northwestern. From the opening whistle, the UW women were locked in.
The Badgers came out hot from the start, pressuring the Wildcat defense by relentlessly attacking the box. It didn't take long for one of their attacks to produce results either. Wisconsin's first goal would come in the 19th minute on a beautiful series of passes in and around the box.
After a heads up play, sophomore midfielder Alev Kelter hooked up with junior forward Laurie Nosbusch. With a well played ball into the box, freshman midfielder Kodee Williams controlled the ball and put it past the Northwestern keeper.
Continuing the assault on Northwestern's back line, Wisconsin would find themselves in a good position just five minutes after scoring the first goal. Delivering a great cross into the box, freshman midfielder Catie Sessions was able to find the head of Nosbusch who would drive the ball to the back of the net, increasing the Wisconsin lead to two.
And not to outdo herself, Nosbusch would find the net once more in the game to solidify Wisconsin's lead over the Wildcats. The goal coming in the 30th minute on a right place, right time play. Sophomore midfielder Monica Lam-Feist crossed the ball into the box finding the feet of junior midfielder Leigh Williams. Williams shot would be blocked, but not cleared. Capitalizing on the free ball, Nosbusch knocked it home for her second of the game.
Nosbusch would play one of her best games of the season Monday night, scoring two goals and adding one assist. The junior midfielder found herself involved in all of the Badgers goals. Head coach Paula Wilkins had nothing but praise for Nosbusch.
""I thought she could have a couple more,"" Wilkins said. ""I think when she raised her level there in the first half, it really made a difference.""
Having a good day of her own, junior keeper Michele Dalton was on top of her game, earning her 11th shutout of the season. After a relatively quiet first half for Dalton, she found herself needing to make some big, and at the time acrobatic, saves in the second half to keep her clean sheet bid alive.
""I thought she [Dalton] did a great job,"" Wilkins said. ""I think getting those opportunities and making those saves, it builds some confidence going into the post season.""
The win was an emotional one for the team in a few different ways. It was the last conference game for the Wisconsin seniors, and to be able to get the win at home was a big motivating factor from the opening kickoff.
""It was the last conference game for the seniors and we really wanted to play hard for them,"" Kodee Williams said.
With the win, the Badgers moved to 7-1-2 Big Ten and 10-4-4 overall. As it stands now, Wisconsin sits at the top of the Big Ten standings. The Badgers need either a tie or loss by both Penn State and Ohio State when those teams play Michigan and Michigan State, respectively, later this week to win the team's first Big Ten title since 1996.
Expecting to earn a NCAA bid regardless though, the team is hoping for a home field reward in that tournament.
""Hopefully we get a home bid so we can play at home and keep the momentum going,"" Williams said.
The team will learn their NCAA tournament fate when those selections are announced on Nov. 8.
