The Wisconsin women's soccer team was unable to maintain their three-game winning streak over the weekend, losing 2-1 at No. 25 Minnesota and 3-0 at Iowa. The Badgers have struggled on the road all season going 0-6-1 and have been outscored 17-2. The two losses drop Wisconsin's record to 3-6 in Big Ten play and 9-8-1 overall.
Friday night at the Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium in St. Paul, the Badgers faced the Gophers in a border battle. There were 23 fouls including eight yellow cards, five of which were given to the Badgers, in the highly physical game.
The early stalemate was broken in the 25th minute when Minnesota senior Kaitlin Wagner scored on a ball from senior Clare Grimwood that went just inside the left post. The Gophers were unable to hold their lead for long as the Badgers scored less than two minutes later when freshman Leigh Williams notched her second goal of the year on an unassisted shot in the 26th minute. Williams' goal was the first allowed by Minnesota at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium this year.
Wisconsin's defense kept the game from getting out of hand. The Badgers were outshot 11-3 in the first half but senior goalkeeper Jamie Klages managed to stop five. She ended the game with six saves, the most she's had since her seven saves against Penn State.
The Gophers scored the go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute when Grimwood was assisted by Wagner and blasted a ball into the upper left corner of the goal. The Badgers were unable to win any corners in the second half and only recorded three shots. They were outshot by a staggering 19-6 margin at the end of the game. It was the Badgers third loss in the last four years against the Gophers.
Wisconsin played their last road game of the regular season Sunday. The match was fairly even, but the Hawkeyes were able to finish their shots, unlike the Badgers. Each team recorded 13 shots, five on goal, but Iowa located the back of the net three times against Klages.
The windy conditions made it extra difficult as 30-40 mph gusts affected any ball that made it off the ground.
Iowa's freshman Alyssa Cosnek scored
her eighth goal of the year off a corner kick in the 17th minute. Senior Kelsey Shaw and freshman Morgan Showalter assisted on the goal.
Iowa added two more goals in the second half, both unassisted, one by junior Alexandria Seydel and one by sophomore Keli McLaughlin. Senior Taylor Walsh and junior Krista Liskevych each had two shots on goal. It was the sixth time this year the Badgers were shutout.
Wisconsin returns to the McClimon Soccer Complex Friday to end their regular season against Northwestern. It will be Senior Night for the Badgers and they will look to improve their home record to 8-2. Wisconsin lost to Northwestern 3-0 last season in Evanston, but won 5-0 the last time the Wildcats came to Madison.
- uwbadgers.com
contributed to this report.
