To say Nick Van Sicklen's past week went pretty well would be the mother of all understatements. The senior striker notched five goals and an assist on the way to leading the UW men's soccer team to a pair of wins against Penn State and UW-Milwaukee last week. For his efforts, Van Sicklen earned the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award and was named National Player of the Week by College Soccer News.
\I thought he kind of took us on his shoulders,"" UW assistant coach John Szczepanski said. ""He really stepped his game up to being a leader on the field...and just leading the younger guys and showing them what a captain and a good leader will do.""
The magnificent weekend marked a stunning return to form for both Van Sicklen and the Badgers. Individually, Van Sicklen had struggled to find the back of the net, going goals since scoring against Creighton Sept. 19. Meanwhile, prior to the UWM game, the Badgers had dropped three straight and four of thier last five matches.
That all changed against Milwaukee though, as both team and player got off the schneid. Van Sicklen bagged both of UW's goals in the 2-0 win. Not content with that win, Wisconsin proceeded to knock off then No. 9 Penn State in emphatic fashion thanks to a treble of goals from Van Sicklen.
Van Sicklen's goals were just what the doctor ordered for UW, espcecially with the injury to leading scorer Jed Holbein.
""We knew that from the beginning that we couldn't just rely on Jed to score our goals,"" Szczepanski said. ""We needed to get them from different areas and to the credit of Nick...and some other guys, they've stepped up their games.""
To some extent, both player and coach attributed the performance to a realization that Van Sicklen's days as a Badger are numbered.
""Every game I play, [there is] one less,"" Van Sicklen said of his shortening time. ""I think that mentality helps going into each game knowing you have 90 minutes to prove yourself and with only 18 games on the schedule, it's definitely an added incentive.""
Yet for all the individual plaudits he has received, Van Sicklen would trade them all in for team glory. It just so happens they coincided this past week.
""These awards wouldn't mean anything without some wins behind them,"" Van Sicklen said. ""Especially beating the Milwaukees and the Penn States out there. I think I'd rather win than get any National Player of the Week-type award.""
Van Sicklen is also quick to point out that he would not have achieved anything without the fine play of all his teammates.
""I think the other ten that are out there with me have made it happen."" Van Sicklen said. ""I couldn't have scored five goals in the last week without some of them, especially Aaron Holbein and Noah [Goerlitz].""
And even though his gaudy stats may have overshadowed the outstanding defensive performances of players like Holbein and the midfield domination of Goerlitz, his teammates have nothing but good things to say about Van Sicklen.
""I think everybody is really happy for him,"" Goerlitz said for his team, ""I think he definitely deserved it. I mean, he scored five goals in two games against two big opponents when we needed them and he deserves everything he got, for sure.""
With a huge game against defending NCAA national champions Indiana looming on the schedule, Wisconsin will again need a big performance out of Van Sicklen. But after five goals, he can probably expect some tight marking, which means someone else will have to step up. Van Sicklen is certain his mates are up to the task.
""It adds another challenge for myself and it opens up a lot for other guys to step up,"" he said, ""Friday [against IU] especially is an opportunity for someone to take what I did and add to it.""
For Van Sicklen, the Badger's mediocre record belies the true potential of the squad and he thinks their performance last week was just the tip of the iceberg. The senior has grand aspirations of going out on top on his final tour of duty in the cardinal and white.
""I think we're capable of winning a Big Ten championship and making some noise in the Big Ten tournament with the guys we have right now,"" Van Sicklen said. ""I think we're capable of a lot.""
The question of whether or not UW really can compete with the best in the nation should be answered Friday in Bloomington against the No. 2-ranked Hoosiers. And whether it is with his goals and assists, or just his will and leadership, you can be sure Nick Van Sicklen will leave his mark on the outcome.
