A sweltering Friday night season opener saw a 7 p.m. kickoff temperature of 85 degrees. Still, fans turned out by the hundreds to support their Badgers as they took on the Oregon Ducks, who were coming off of a 3-0 win in an exhibition game earlier this month. Looking to build off last year’s successful season, the Badgers wanted to start the season off on a high note, and they were able to do just that, with a 54th minute goal by senior forward Cara Walls.
It was not a flashy win, but sometimes the 1-0 grinders are good character builders for teams, especially early in the season. It gives the team resilience and a backbone to power through when the going gets tough.
And this game was a grinder in every sense of the word. It was a physical contest from the start, with players hitting the deck early and often, although the only yellow card came in the 68th minute when an attacking Oregon midfielder collided with Wisconsin goalkeeper Genevieve Richard, landing an Oregon cleat on the keeper’s head. Fortunately, Richard was unhurt and able to remain in the game.
Richard had an great game in being credited with two saves but getting her hands on quite a few more balls headed her way. On one particular save, she used every inch of her 5-foot-11 frame to sky up and snag a well placed header, saving the Badgers’ lead late in the game.
What helped her have such a solid outing was the spectacular defending by her backline. Defenders Brianna Stelzer and Alexandra Heller, who both played the full 90 minutes, showed their veteran experience as they were able to maintain control throughout frequent Oregon offensives.
It is arguable that Stelzer should have been credited with a save, when, early in the game, Richard was caught too far off of her line and was beaten by a Duck forward. Stelzer was able to recover and slide in, sending the ball out of play and preventing what could have been an easy goal.
The Badgers had trouble keeping possession, especially in the second half, and the Ducks spent a lot of the time with the ball in the UW box. It was the strong play of the defenders and the goalkeeper that was able to keep Oregon at bay and hold on to the lead.
The Badgers’ attackers had a number of scoring opportunities, tallying up a total of 15 shots, but it was a game filled with missed chances. There were a number of quality crosses by Wisconsin wingers that were well defended. Coach Paula Wilkins has to want to see her girls take better advantage of the breaks they get, although at the very least it should bode well for the future.
Wilkins and the Badgers only get one day off before they take on the Tennessee Volunteers, who crushed the Milwaukee Panthers 5-0 in Madison just prior to the Oregon-Wisconsin game. The Volunteers are looking to make 2014 their fifth straight winning season, and they are off to a hot start. It should be an early test for the Badgers as they work to make another tournament run of their own.
