As the Badger men's soccer season heads to a close, an air of optimism surrounds the players and coaches.
\We have to pick it up for the rest of the season, though I am disappointed with some of the early results. We lost a few in overtime and a few by a goal. We just have to pick up the intensity and work rate in practice and on the field during game time,"" sophomore forward Nick Van Sicklen said.
Other players also echo that some games have been disappointing. But that's in the past'they would rather look to the future.
""We've had our ups and downs but we look forward to improving our record, first and foremost, being consistent especially during this last stretch and doing well in the Big Ten and looking forward to going to the NCAA Tournament,"" senior forward Valentine Anozie said.
Though the Badgers are on a four-game losing streak as they play Michigan State, they know they have to stay strong and stay competitive. Head Coach Jeff Rohrman said he agrees.
""We have to keep plugging away and keep working hard and keep believing and eventually we're going to be on the other side of things,"" Rohrman said.
Rohrman will look for senior leadership in the upcoming game. He believes they have all worked hard and have contributed in tremendous ways throughout the season. He wants the team to step up and handle the difficult situations they find themselves in, one being their upcoming opponent.
""They have all led certainly in different ways, and I just hope for them that we can put together a good run in the end,"" Rohrman said.
Michigan State is going to be a tough team to defend and play against, according to Rohrman.
""We got a good scouting report on MSU and they are going to be disciplined defensively, they are going to be a very solid team and they're going to be tough to score on so the few chances we do get, we're going to have to do well,"" Rohrman said. ""But I think we match up pretty well with them, we just got to be sure we shut out their top guys in the attack.""
Senior defender John McGrady agrees with this but he also thinks that his team can have an advantage.
""MSU is a tough team but I think they are a team we have had good luck with in the past,"" McGrady said. ""As we have done before, we just have to believe in ourselves and in each other, knowing that if we work together instead of individually we can pull it off. It will be a group effort.""
The Badgers have to score early, play hard defensively and play smart offensively to contain the Spartans. The Badgers have Anozie and Van Sicklen to provide the one-two punch offensively. ""Coming off an injury, I'm trying to get 100 percent by this weekend. The best thing for me would be to score early and to especially work with Valentine a lot because we've been getting a lot of goals and assists off each other,"" Van Sicklen said.
The Badgers are eager to step on the field at Michigan State Sunday and they hope to walk off victorious.
""I am expecting nothing less than a win,"" Anozie said.
