After sprinting out of the gate to a 6-0 start, the Wisconsin women's soccer team (0-2-1 Big Ten, 6-2-1 overall) has sputtered of late losing three of their last four games and tying the other. All four games following the early-season wining streak have been tough conference games in which the Badgers have struggled to find the back of the net. The defensive play and goal-keeping has certainly been respectable, but have not been able to compensate for the offense, which has produced just one goal in the last four games, whereas UW had had 22 goals in the previous six games.
Goals are certainly harder to come by now that conference play has begun, but Head Coach Dean Duerst and his staff are focusing on different schemes to get his team back on track.
\Our kids need to believe they can score because they certainly can,"" Duerst said. ""The big thing we told the team is that they just need to step it up and not try to get going by saying, 'It's going to happen,' but by saying, 'We're going to make it happen.'""
The Badgers have had some tough tests thus far and have not fallen to any weak competition. All four Big Ten teams Wisconsin played have winning records, and UW has made all but one game highly contested.
""A lot of things change when you get into conference play; games get tighter and you see more [games] going into overtime,"" Duerst said. ""We've already had two and we could have won both of those games.""
""We have lost a couple of heartbreakers, a couple close games ... but we haven't really been scoring the last four outings either,"" said junior forward Katie Lindenmuth
With the offense struggling, the Badgers will look to their offensive threats, such as Lindenmuth, to bring the team back its usual high-scoring form. Lindenmuth and her ability to create offense will be key to any turnaround for UW in this upcoming weekend and the rest of the season as well.
""Both Purdue and Indiana are defensive-minded teams, so you have to be able to break them down,"" said Coach Duerst, as if to target Lindenmuth's abilities as one of the reasons he sees improvement on the horizon.
""Katie can beat people individually, and any time a player can do that with pace, they are a danger-they are a weapon,"" Duerst said.
That particular skill will be in high demand his weekend, as well as their continuing quest for Big Ten supremacy, a status not easily attained without the work ethic and positive attitude that Lindenmuth possesses.
""She has adjusted really well to taking on a more of a role on the wing and trying to get behind the defense,"" Duerst said. ""The thing about Katie is that she never stops working, never stops improving her strength at making the defenses unbalanced.""
Lindenmuth is perfectly content with her current position on the team-setting up shots for her teammates and keeping opposing defenses off-balance and disorganized.
""When I am playing on the wing, I love getting on-line and crossing balls into people, but if the opportunity arises, I'd love to finish goals,"" Lindenmuth said. ""But I'll fill any spot, really, that will help us be successful.""
Lindenmuth and company will have a chance to prove they have rediscovered the secret to their early-season offensive production when they take on Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. Friday.
""Purdue is a young team this year,. They are not producing a ton of goals but they have had success at home,"" Duerst said, sizing up his team's next test. ""We are really excited to beat them at home, because we will be the first team since they are 6-0.""
As long as the Badgers carry as much scoring ability into the weekend as they do confidence, UW will thrust themselves right back into Big Ten contention with half of the season remaining to capture the crown.
