The Wisconsin men's soccer team looks to rebound tonight against Eastern Illinois after a loss to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (1-5 overall) Wednesday. The Badgers (5-2 overall) were shut out 1-0 after giving up the only goal in overtime play. It was an extremely tough loss, as they outplayed the Phoenix on both sides of the ball, according to Head Coach Jeff Rohrman. Wisconsin outshot Green Bay 20-8 before they lost on a one-timer in the 95th minute.
\We did everything we needed to do except put the ball in the net. We clearly outplayed them and we should've come away with the win,"" Rohrman said.
""We owned the game. We dominated them. We just didn't execute,"" senior midfielder/defender John McGrady said. ""We're just trying to regroup so we don't let these games get by us ever again, the games we should win, the games where teams are weaker than us.""
The team came into practice Thursday disappointed with the loss but looking to put it behind them. The loss denies the Badgers one of their goals, which was to defeat all of their in-state rivals. Later this season they will take on Marquette and UW-Milwaukee. Rohrman said that Wisconsin will continue to stick to its goals that they have set for this season.
""Our goal is to compete in every game that we play, and we want to put ourselves in position where we can play in the NCAA Tournament. We have to take every game for what it's worth and put our best foot forward,"" Rohrman said. ""We can't take teams lightly. I think we've forgotten some of those things the last eight days.""
The team knows this and is prepared to play tough in all future games.
""One thing we came into practice talking about is increasing our work ethic. We just have to go 110 percent every day in practice and hopefully it will carry over into games,"" McGrady said.
The Badgers will look to get back on the winning track against the Eastern Illinois Panthers. The Panthers (2-2 overall) are led by standout junior midfielder Jason Thompson, and freshman midfielder/forward Jimmy Klatter. Thompson, who has three goals in four games for Eastern Illinois so far this season, played for the United States Under-23 Soccer team, which went undefeated this summer. The team plans to stick with what they have been doing and hopes to execute better.
""I think we're going into the game strong. We want to redeem it and prove to everyone that we are for real and we are back,"" sophomore forward Nick Van Sicklen said. ""Everyone is out to make a statement and to win and win big.""
To do so, Wisconsin will have to work hard on putting the ball into the net against freshman goalie Ryan Eames, who has given up only six goals against 24 saves in four games.
Van Sicklen also hopes to get on track with some of his individual efforts. He has three goals and three assists coming in, but hopes to add to those totals tonight.
""Individually, I need to step up. The pressure's on. I've got to start scoring goals,"" Van Sicklen said.
Wisconsin squares off against Eastern Illinois tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the McClimon Track and Soccer Complex. This will be the last time that the Badgers play at home until Oct. 6 in their Big Ten home opener against Penn State.
