Following an important win over Minnesota in the Twin Cities and a win at home against Iowa, the Wisconsin women's soccer team gets a full seven days of rest this week before squaring off against No. 17 Illinois at noon Sunday. The Badgers extended their shutout streak to eight and their unbeaten streak to nine this weekend, and currently sit atop the Big Ten standings with 10 points.
Senior goalkeeper Michele Dalton continues to be a force between the posts, making eight saves this weekend on the way toward earning her third consecutive Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week award.
""Winning three in one season, it certainly is an accomplishment and I'm proud of it,"" Dalton said. ""I couldn't do it alone for sure. It was the defense always helping me along as well, and we cover for each other and that's our primary job back there, keeping goals out.
""It was definitely a team effort, a defensive effort all the way around, and I'm happy to walk away so far unscathed,"" she added.
While the defense has been steady this season, it has taken time for the offense to find a rhythm. Nonetheless, the UW attack has certainly made the most of its opportunities. Sophomore midfielder Alev Kelter, who scored the game-winner against Minnesota with the Badgers' only shot on target in the match, was upbeat when asked about the progress of the offense.
""I think that the progress that the offense has made has been that we just keep communicating, and getting the ball around the corners is just a big emphasis,"" Kelter said. ""But also defending together so when we do get it in the offensive zone we can all just push up and be a team in the offensive zone.""
With a full seven days off before their home game against Illinois, the Badgers will have more freedom in training this week.
""I think the first thing is that we sort of sit back and look at the things we need to do better from the Iowa game,"" head coach Paula Wilkins said. ""It gives us an opportunity to work on some fitness, a little bit more competitive stuff, we can sort of bang around with each other a little more. So we're going to create a little bit more of a competitive atmosphere this week.""
Wilkins also made it clear that the team is focusing on one match at a time.
""I think any time you're in the Big Ten and you look past any team, you look and try to pick out any game, you just don't know because the Big Ten has such parity to it,"" she said. ""It's difficult to get ready for [Illinois]. They cause so many problems and have so many talented players that we're going to just have to stay as organized as we possibly can in the back and take our chances when we get them.""
