The Wisconsin men's soccer team begins its post- season play Thursday when the No. 4 seed Badgers (2-4 Big Ten, 9-9 overall) take on the No. 5 seed Michigan State Spartans (2-4, 9-6-1) in the Big Ten Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The two teams are pitted against each other for the second time in just 10 days, with Wisconsin emerging victorious in the regular season match-up 2-1, thanks to two goals from senior forward Nick Van Sicklen.
UW Head Coach Jeff Rohrman liked what his team did in the first game and fancies his chances again in the rematch.
\I thought we played very well in the first half and competed well, and, you know, we had a great game from Nick Van Sicklen, who helped close it out for us,"" Rohrman said. ""They had the better of it maybe the last 25, 30 minutes.""
The Badgers will also have the luxury of playing a full-strength Jed Hohlbein. The senior striker missed a large part of the regular season and is now returning to form. His hat trick in the penultimate game was proof of that. With Hohlbein back in the lineup, it takes some of the focus off of Van Sicklen, who shouldered much of the goal burden in Hohlbein's absence.
""Jed Hohlbein's been out for a period of time and having him back this last week and having him perform the way he did against Marquette with three goals, that helps us,"" Rohrman said. ""It takes a little bit of the pressure off a guy like Nick Van Sicklen. So having two guys that can put the ball in the net is certainly going to help us this weekend.""
Wisconsin will need a big weekend out of the senior strike partnership if it hopes to keep any NCAA aspirations alive. With a regular season record right at .500, the Badgers will need a strong run in the Big Ten tournament to earn a NCAA tournament bid.
""Yeah, at this stage, I think with where we are we're probably going to have to win all three,"" Rohrman said.
The task will not be easy though. Even if the Badgers get by Michigan State, Indiana, the No. 1 seed and reigning NCAA champion, will be waiting in the semi-finals Friday morning.
