You know expectations are high when you can preserve your unbeaten record and still not be satisfied.
That point was made Sunday afternoon at McClimon Soccer Complex, when the No. 25 Wisconsin women's soccer team (3-0-1) played Oklahoma State (3-0-2) to a 1-1 draw.
\I think for everybody it's a little disappointing,"" senior captain Amy Vermeulen said. ""Obviously a tie is better than a loss, but we know we could have beaten that team. ""All we can do is get over it and get ready for the next game.""
Oklahoma State got on the board first with a goal at 26:24. Cowgirl sophomore Nicole Grimaldi flicked a shot past sophomore goalkeeper Lynn Murray to the back right post to put the Badgers in an early 1-0 hole.
The Badgers came out attacking in the second half. Just five minutes in, freshman Elise Weber fed a cross to Vermeulen, whose header dropped just over Cowgirl goalkeeper Jeanne Rankin's head and into the net for her fourth goal of the season.
Each team had numerous scoring opportunities the rest of the way, but neither could convert. Wisconsin redshirt freshman Taylor Walsh came inches from sealing the victory in overtime, but her shot rocketed off the right post.
""At times we needed to just be finer with our final pass and our final play,"" Wisconsin head coach Dean Duerst said. ""Then you get the goals you want.""
Though the Badgers looked much stronger in the second half, it wasn't enough to overcome what Duerst considered a poor first half performance.
""We lost way too many 50-50's in the first half,"" he said. ""We were a team that looked like it didn't want to be on the field. We needed to say some things at halftime and get them fired up a little bit. ""We just came out with a lot more will to get to the ball and be the aggressor,"" said Duerst.
Whatever was said seemed to help, as the Badgers looked like a much more confident team in the second half. Despite managing just one goal, Wisconsin out shot Oklahoma State 11 to 6 in the second half and overtime periods.
Wisconsin held a 14 to 11 edge in shots overall, and also had a nine to six advantage in corner kicks, though they were unable to convert. Murray made five saves for the Badgers, allowing one goal, just her third in four games.
Despite the disappointment in the draw, the team tried not to lose sight of their great start to the season. ""It wasn't the prettiest game, and it wasn't what I hoped going in to the game,"" said Duerst. ""You have to deal with your performances and now move on.""
