Coming off an impressive road victory versus Nebraska, University of Wisconsin Women's Soccer Team (3-1-2 Big Ten, 8-4-2 overall) looks to continue their winning ways as they take on Northwestern on Friday in Evanston and Illinois on Sunday in Champaign for their final road series of the season.
""The biggest thing that you're looking for at this point of season is consistency and consistency from all parts of the field. You need some players to be special with what they need to do,"" head coach Paula Wilkins said.
Northwestern (1-5-0 Big Ten, 2-11-0 overall) are looking to build upon a recent road upset of Michigan, 1-0, on Oct 8. Prior to that, they had lost five straight Big Ten contests. The young Wildcats offense averages 11 shots per game and just under a goal a game for the season. Their offense is led by sophomore Kate Allen who leads the team with four goals and nine points and was on the 2010 All-Big Ten Freshmen Team. Another offensive threat for the Wildcats is freshmen Sami Schrakamp who leads the team in assists with four. Defensively, Northwestern is anchored by freshmen goalkeeper Anna Cassell who has a save percentage of 63 percent.
""The big thing is that we focus on our performance and what we do well. Also, we talk about consistency and being in the moment and being very good in those moments, whether it's on set pieces, transitions, or whatever it might be,"" Wilkins said. ""Northwestern is much better than what their record and we have to make sure that it is a team effort to be successful against them.""
Sunday's game against Illinois (3-2-1 Big Ten, 9-4-1 overall) is a pivotal game and has heavy implications on seedings for the Big Ten Conference tournament. Currently, the Badgers are second in the standings and only one point ahead of the Illini. Illinois is the winner of three straight games including a double-overtime victory, 1-0, against Michigan State.
Their potent offensive attack is led by sophomore Vanessa DiBernardo who leads the team in both goals scored with 12 and total points with 28. The Illini defense features recent Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week, senior Jenna Carosio.
""We control our own destination from here on out. Illinois is going to pose some major problems for us. It's going to be a big game and probably a major deciding factor in both of our seasons in how we finish,"" Michele Dalton said. ""I think we're really focused and coming along at the right time.""
