The Wisconsin Badgers men’s soccer team had their two game win streak snapped Tuesday, losing to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 4-2 in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Rutgers got on the board in the 26th minute when they took a corner kick that was cleared by a Wisconsin header. The ball landed near Rutgers defender Devon Stopek, who tried to kick it when the ball was deflected. It headed to the far post, where Rutgers defender Camron Boumsong attempted an acrobatic scissor kick that went straight into the net. The referee did not count the goal at first for a handball, but reversed the call after video review.
Wisconsin had a few shots in the first half but struggled to create concrete chances and ended the first half scoreless, trailing by one.
Only a few minutes into the second half, Wisconsin received an opportunity on a collective counter attack, led by forward Cristobal Porter. It culminated in a cross by Wisconsin midfielder Ola Arnsten that was met by a header from Wisconsin forward Roman Eisa header that went into the goal and tied the score. This was Eisa’s first goal this season.
However Rutgers found a way to get back in the lead only three minutes later. Forward Cristobal Porter had the inter to play the ball back to midfielder Arnsten clearly misunderstood Porter and had already advanced. Rutgers midfielder Joschi Shelb intercepted it and passed the ball to Andrew Kitch who struck the ball in the back of the net.
Then, in the 58th minute, after going up by a goal only four minutes earlier, Shelb took a corner kick. It was captured at first by goalkeeper Matisse Hébert, but the ball slipped out of his hands. Rutgers defender Nick Collins was there to head it in to give Rutgers a 3-1 lead.
Despite trailing by two goals, the Badgers had not said their final word. In the 71st minute, Arnsten, who seemed to be all over the field, fought through some duels and whipped in a cross from the distant right flank of the field. Eisa was there to head it in, once again, but this time the goalie saved it. Wisconsin forward Markie Hrvojevic was there for the rebound and simply tapped the ball in for a goal to bring the score within one with 20 minutes to play.
In the 86th minute, Rutgers goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton played the ball to his striker on a goal kick. Wisconsin defenders misjudged it, and Scarlet Knights forward Dan Karsten managed to get through on goal but was taken down by Wisconsin defender Ellis Jones right outside the box. Jones received a red card as he was Wisconsin’s final defender on the play. Rutgers, with a free kick placed right outside of Wisconsin’s box, cashed in.
Rutgers’ Dan Karnsten took the free kick and, while the ball was deflected by Wisconsin’s wall, it deceived Hebert and found the back of the net.
When the final whistle blew, the Scarlet Knights were victorious 4-2.
While Rutgers produced offensively, they only had four shots on goal, all of which resulted in goals. This marked a rare poor performance from Hebert, who has been one of the Badgers’ best players thus far.
