There is an air of excitement around Camp Randall. The sun is shining and the hot summer weather has begun to cool off just in time for fall sports season. But the excitement is not just for the football team, it also resonates for the women's soccer team, who is coming off a strong season last year with a 13-9-3 record.
\It's early, but they have a look to them that they're determined to be better than last year versus 'Let's just do what we did last year,'"" said Head Coach Dean Duerst. ""No, we want to be better.""
The team returns eight starters from last year's squad including a group of seniors that look to take the reins of the team, in particular senior midfielder Jenny Kundert and senior defensive back Bethany Heine, who are co-captains along with junior midfielder Molly Meuer.
The goal is to take what the team learned last year and improve upon it this season. While UW lost some important players in key positions, the feeling on the team seems to be that not only are returning players ready to produce, but the younger, newer players are ready to make a mark as well.
""It's a different group of girls,"" Meuer said. ""There's a lot of young players. The leadership of older players is really helping the younger players in teaching them what they need to do in order to succeed. It makes a huge difference.""
The team's first win came against DePaul in an exhibition game Aug. 23 where the Badgers came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Blue Demons 3-2 in double overtime after a final goal by freshman forward Emily Kintzer.
""That was a big character builder,"" Kundert said. ""Just to know that we could go into a game and be down and come back. That's going to help a lot going into the regular season.""
The regular season kicked off last weekend with two games against No. 16 California and St. Mary's (Calif.). UW dominated St. Mary's, but the 3-1 victory came in the shadow of a loss to the Bears Aug. 29, something Duerst does not take lightly.
""This team needs to know that losing to [California] is not good enough,"" Duerst said. ""It's a lesson learned that if we want to reach our goals, which is beating ranked teams, than we got to do better.""
However, the win against St. Mary's left the team feeling confident and with a lot to think about before heading on the road to Northern Illinois Friday and opening the home season Sunday against Kansas.
""We left on a high note,"" Duerst said. ""We as a staff learned a lot about our players. We have some depth on this team. Now you really look forward to going to Northern and hosting our first home game of the season against Kansas. I think we'll really be ready.\
