This weekend will decide it all for the Badgers (3-4-1 Big Ten, 9-4-1 overall), ranked No. 6 in the conference. They battle the No. 9 Big Ten team, Michigan State Spartans (2-5-1, 8-6-1) on Friday at the McClimon Complex. The Spartans, who have a 2-5-1 record, are looking to snap a four-game losing streak and even the score with the Badgers.
With only two conference games left in the regular season, the Badgers desperately need a couple wins to secure a place in the Big Ten Tournament and improve their conference record to 5-4-1. A win against the Spartans and a loss by the Hoosiers and the Fighting Illini Friday would move Wisconsin into fourth place in the conference.
In preparation for Friday's game against Michigan State, sophomore midfielder Kara Kabellis, who ranks fourth on the team in points with four goals and two assists on the season, and the rest of the Badgers have spent time focusing on the Spartans formation and play calling.
\We need to come out strong, play like we practice and shut them down offensively,"" Kabellis said of her expectations.
Shutting opposing teams down offensively has been one of Wisconsin's strongest points this season. With only 18 goals scored against them in 14 games, including five shutouts, the Badgers are feeling confident on defense. The challenge will be to maintain that strength this weekend.
""We just need to keep the ball moving, keep the defense tight and keep the ball on the ground,"" said freshman goalkeeper Lynn Murray as she iced her knee after practice.
Murray, who has tallied a 1.38 goals against average, is a vital element to this UW Badgers' team.
According to junior midfielder Katy Lindenmuth, the Badgers' second overall leader in points and goals and first overall in assists, the Badgers, as they have done all season, will continue to play aggressively against the Spartans.
""We just have to take care of business this weekend and try to secure the best seed we can in the tourney,"" said Lindenmuth.
That might be easier said than done, as the Badgers not only have to play a competitive MSU on Friday, but have to finish the weekend against the No. 2 Big Ten team, Michigan Sunday.
Michigan, with only one loss in conference play, will prove to be the Badgers' most important and maybe most difficult game of the season.
Wisconsin, who started the year 6-0, has since gone 3-4-1 and has had trouble getting a win in close conference games: Three of their four losses have been decided by one goal.
A win against both the Wolverines and the Spartans this weekend would secure a spot in the Big Ten Tournament and take an enormous load off the team.
Kabellis, Lindenmuth and Murray, as well as the rest of the team, cannot stress enough, however, the team's need to focus on Michigan State before they begin to think about the match with the Wolverines.
""This weekend is crucial to our season, yes, but we can't let the weekend as a whole overwhelm us, we have to take it one game at a time,"" said Kabellis.
Both games are at home this weekend, which might give the Badgers a little bit of an edge. Friday's game is at 7 p.m and Sunday's game is at 1 p.m. Both will be held at the McClimon Complex.
