Growing up in Madison there was no question as to where Molly and Katy Meuer would go to school. Their grandfather swam at UW, their father, Kelly, played soccer for the Badgers, and their uncles, Rob and Jeff Andringa, both played hockey at Wisconsin.
The Meuer sisters were destined to play soccer at UW.
\With all the connections I always grew up wanting to be a Badger and wanting to play here in this environment,"" Katy said.
""I never felt pressured to come here, but I knew I always wanted to come here,"" Molly added.
Badger Head Coach Dean Duerst was a friend of the family long before Molly and Katy were even born. Duerst went to high school with the Meuer's mother and father and also grew up around their uncles. But do not take that the wrong way. Molly and Katy are playing at UW because of their ability to play soccer.
""There is a huge connection there,"" Duerst said. ""So you just know the personality and character of them. But they are exceptional players. They fit in to our kind of team, which is very hard-working, team players.""
The family history in and around the city of Madison adds to the Meuer's experience.
""I love it here,"" Molly said. ""Madison is a great city. We grew up here and my family has a business here. All my family gets to watch and my friends get to watch.
""It's also nice because whenever you don't want to be downtown you can go home. And whenever you need to do laundry or want a home-cooked meal you can go home and you can take your teammates with you too.""
Katy, a freshman midfielder/defender, has had the opportunity this season to learn from Molly, the senior midfielder/defender and also one of the team's tri-captains.
""I love having her here and being able to train with her and travel with her,"" Molly said.
""It was a little bit easier to get acclimated because this summer she took me along on her workouts so I knew I would be doing everything the right way,"" Katy said. ""I still had to fit in with the team by myself. I'm still my own person, but obviously my sister helps make me feel more welcome and not so overwhelmed.""
Of course, having her younger sister as a freshman just gives her extra fuel for the fire.
""She always picks on me,"" Katy said. ""It's all fun. It goes back and forth.""
""I pick on her more than I do the other freshman because I feel more comfortable with her and I feel like I can do it,"" Molly said.
Playing the same positions also gives the two a chance to compete with one another during practice. But at the end of the day, they are still sisters.
""I don't really think she plays that much like me, but a lot of other girls on the team think she does and the coaches think she does,"" Molly said. ""I try not to compare us, but that happens.""
""Obviously we're both very competitive people and we have our little competitions within the game and we try to beat each other,"" Katy said. ""But when the day is done we both go home and just give each other a hug.""
Duerst already sees Katy following a very similar path as her older sister.
""What Molly was able to do is very similar to what Katy is doing,"" Duerst said. ""She is getting some game time in her first season and get that experience and elevate her play and we expect that out of her.""
Katy has seen action in five games thus far this season, posting one assist and two shots on goal as a substitute. Molly has started in all eight games and has tallied one goal, a game-winner, and one assist.
After starting the season with six straight victories, the Badgers ( 0-1-1 Big Ten, 6-1-1 overall) lost to No. 5 Penn State and tied No. 22 Ohio State last weekend to open the season. The team has scored 22 goals in games it has won, but were held scoreless last weekend.
""We were creating chances,"" Duerst said. ""Now it's just a matter of, in training and in games, having a little more focus on the finishing. On the road we've been able to score multiple times and to complete our opportunities.""
Wisconsin will get a chance to keep up its offensive success on the road this weekend as they travel to Northwestern (0-2-0, 4-4-0) Friday and No. 11 Illinois (1-1-0, 7-1-0) Sunday to continue Big Ten play.
