Playing in Massachusetts this past weekend proved a challenge for the Wisconsin women's soccer team (4-2-1). The Badgers started off Friday night against the Boston University Terriers (5-3-0) but were unable to continue their four-game winning streak. The match ended in a 1-0 loss for the Badgers while the Terriers earned their third-straight victory.
The game's lone goal came in the 25th minute within the 18 yard box from Terrier junior Emily Pallotta off of a corner kick by senior Marisha Schumacher-Hodge. Wisconsin outshot Boston 13-9 and put the ball on goal 11 times in the second half. Senior Badger goalkeeper Jamie Klages had four saves for the night, two in each half, while BU's sophomore goalkeeper Janie Reilly had six, all in the second half.
The Badgers had opportunities to find the goal, but most of the play was kept in the midfield. In the 43rd minute, senior Sheri Ferron had a chance to tie the game before half with an 18-yard shot that ended up hitting the crossbar.
The Terrier defense then recovered and cleared the ball out.
Head coach Paula Wilkins believed that the team had come out of the locker room stronger and were more focused on playing. In the second half we responded better ... our tempo was better and our attitude was better,"" Wilkins said.
Wisconsin had another opportunity Sunday afternoon to regain their winning run at Harvard. The Badgers, however, could only manage a 1-1 tie against the Crimson after the game went to double overtime Freshman Laurie Nosbusch, senior Sheri Ferron and freshman Meghan Flannery each had two shots on goal. The team's top scorer, senior forward Taylor Walsh, did not play in Sunday's game.
Wisconsin applied intense pressure throughout the game against the Crimson and held a 21-10 edge in shots, but were only able to put the ball past junior goalkeeper Lauren Mann once.
The Crimson scored first in the 17th minute on a breakaway from freshman Melanie Baskind. The Badgers did not respond until the 64th minute off of a corner kick by freshman midfielder Rita Keimakh. Nosbusch headed in the goal by to tie up the game.
The Badgers controlled overtime play, but the Harvard defense was able to keep them from scoring. Wisconsin players took six shots on goal, but the Crimson's Mann made three saves during the extra 20 minutes of play. Harvard's one shot on goal nearly gave them the win in overtime. Sophomore Katherine Sheeleigh had a breakaway in the 107th minute but, the shot hit off the corner of the crossbar and went out of bounds.
The Badgers will be able to play their next four games at home at the McClimon soccer complex. Badgers will face Pepperdine and Nevada this Friday and Sunday, respectively.
- uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.
