The Wisconsin Badgers men’s soccer team beat Michigan State 2-0 on Oct. 17 before faltering at No. 14 Indiana 4-1 on Oct. 21. With the win against Michigan State, Wisconsin had an opportunity to gain some postseason momentum if they could find a way to upset Indiana. But Indiana’s high-powered offense proved too much for Wisconsin to handle, and the Badgers fell easily.
Michigan State
Coming into their game on Oct. 17, Wisconsin desperately needed a win to keep their season alive. In beating Michigan State 2-0 at the McClimon Complex, they did just that.
Reeling from a 4-2 loss to Rutgers, a game in which starting goalkeeper Matisse Hebert struggled, head coach Neil Jones felt the time was right to make a switch at goalie, starting freshman Patrik Stechnij against Michigan State. It was a bold move to shift away from Hebert, who has started for the Badgers for the last two years, but Jones’ decision paid off, as Stechnij made some big saves throughout the game and kept a clean sheet on his debut.
The game started slowly for both teams, as if all 22 players were scared of making a mistake. But things started to heat up at the end of the half.
In the 40th minute, a great collective sequence culminated into a shot from Wisconsin forward Markie Hrvojevic on goal. Michigan State defenders failed to clear the ball and Wisconsin midfielder Ola Arnsten managed to get a hold of it on the right flank before he whipped in a cross that was boxed out by Spartan goalkeeper Zac Kelly. Soon after, Michigan State showed some spark of their own in attacks, as midfielder Peter Soudan hit a volley at the entry of the box that went straight down the middle and was saved by Stechnij.
In the 43rd minute, Wisconsin midfielder Matthew Zachemski managed to win a duel in the midfield circle and play a long ball to Hrvojevic on the left wing. Hrvojevic saw his teammate Aidan Martinez making a run and decided to pass the ball which seemed like it was going to be intercepted by a Michigan State defender. However, the Spartan slipped, and Martinez got a hold of the ball face-to-face with the goalie, but Kelly made a big save.
The game was still scoreless at halftime, but the Badgers had put up three shots on goal, giving themr hope they would be able to pick up their second Big Ten win of the season.
In the 68th minute, the Badgers finally got on the scoreboard. After a goal kick from Michigan State’s goalie, Wisconsin forward Cristobal Porter played a through ball to forward Thomas Raimbault. He shifted it left to Zachemski who finished the job with his left foot. The goal was Zachemski’s fourth goal of the year, an impressive feat for a midfielder.
In the 75th minute, Wisconsin defender Will Smith took a throw-in and managed to play it to Raimbault, who was in the box. Raimbault, a senior from New Zealand, then headed it in to double Wisconsin’s lead.
The goal was the latest reminder that strong throw-ins have been advantageous for the Badgers.
Michigan State had not said their final word, desperately looking to make a comeback. In the 79th minute, Spartans forward Chimnosoh Okeke managed to dribble past defenders to put himself in a one-on-one situation with Stechnij. The Wisconsin goalkeeper got the best of the situation and made a huge save with his legs.
Indiana
Wisconsin was unable to replicate their success when they took on No. 14 Indiana on Oct. 21, falling behind early and losing 4-1.
In the 19th minute, Wisconsin defender Julian Kuhr tripped Indiana forward Palmer Ault. The referee called a penalty on the field but reversed the call after video assistancel. The Badgers have conceded many penalties this season and came close to offering Indiana a chance to go up early.
In the 21st minute, Indiana forward Palmer Ault took a corner kick for the Hoosiers. His cross was low but Indiana defender Josh Maher was able to get a header on it, which was then deflected by Wisconsin defenders. Indiana defender Alex Barger was ready for the rebound, though, and smashed a volley through the back of the net.
Wisconsin was not able to muster up a single shot on goal in the first half, and went into halftime trailing 1-0.
The Hoosiers went up 2-0 early in the second half. Once again, Ault was at the origin of it. On a free kick from distance, he perfectly placed the ball for Indiana defender Breckin Minzey to complete a header. Minzey timed his run to the far post perfectly and scored.
nAult was fouled on the edge of the box on a counter attack a few minutes later, offering Indiana a golden opportunity to go up 3-0. He was in charge of the free kick and kicked a low, driven shot below the wall but was denied by Stechnij. Unfortunately for the Badgers, Stechnij let the ball go, and Indiana defender Josh Maher tapped it in [on the rebound??].
Wisconsin players will have nightmares of Ault, who was involved in all three goals that all came from set pieces.
In the 63rd minute, the Hoosiers put the final nail in Wisconsin’s coffin. On a two-on-three, Indiana forward Colton Swan gained some space and played a ball between two defenders for the speedy Collins Oduro. Oduro took a touch to pass the goalkeeper and tapped the ball into the empty net to make the Hoosiers lead 4-0.
Badgers attacker Sam Green prevented Wisconsin from being shutout. Hrvojevic dribbled his way into the box and passed it to forward Julian Banks. Banks attempted to play it back to him, but the ball bounced on Hrvojevic’s foot and arrived at Green’s feet, who shot the ball into the bottom right corner. It was Green’s first goal of the season.
