The Wisconsin men’s soccer team (1-3-2 Big Ten, 6-7-5 overall) will play its first postseason game as the No. 6 seed against No. 3 Michigan (3-2-1, 8-8-1) in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament Wednesday. The Badgers already bested the Wolverines 2-1 at home earlier this season.
“I’m sure Michigan is looking for a little revenge factor after we beat them a few weeks ago,” head coach John Trask said. “Every team in the tournament is a very good team. I don’t think Michigan will underestimate us as a six seed. They have some very talented individuals; we will have to play great tomorrow in order to give ourselves a chance.”
Michigan has won three straight games and four out of its last five.
“They are a hot team at the moment,” senior captain and defender Kyle McCrudden said. “But at this point in the season all Big Ten teams are playing well. Everyone has the same drive to get into the NCAA tournament. The intensity is retched up 10 times, so we really have to bring our game.”
While Wisconsin will rely on the strength of its veteran players, some freshman at key positions could have an impact.
“Some young guys have gotten some really good playing time,” Trask said. “However, we will rely on a lot of juniors and seniors. They will be the ones that lead us, the ones that have been through this before.”
Freshman goalkeeper Chase Rau won his second consecutive and third overall Big Ten defensive player of the week Monday. He became the first Badger to win the award three times in one season, and he is coming off a six-save shutout against Ohio State. Rau has not given up a goal in his last 261 minutes played.
“I feel confident that whatever Michigan throws at us, the defense and I will be able to handle it,” Rau said. “We will play like we have been playing;—with a lot of composure. Not giving up goals doesn’t come from just me, it comes from the entire defensive unit, the midfield and the offense.
“Our team matches up really well against a lot of teams in the Big Ten,” Rau said. “It’s up for grabs. It came down to the last game to determine who took positions one through seven in the bracket.”
The top five teams in the Big Ten finished within two points of each other.
Freshman midfielder Drew Conner has two goals and one assist in the 17 games he has started this year.
“This first year was about adjusting to the college style of play for me,” Conner said. “Things are a lot faster, players are a lot stronger. Sometimes in club or academy when you score an early goal, the other team shuts down. In college, teams just never stop fighting. Every game is a battle.”
Wisconsin will need to win the Big Ten tournament in order to advance into the NCAA tournament.
“The young players we have this season are doing well for us and are maturing,” said McCrudden. “I think they will do great. That’s the thing with the Big Ten tournament, once you get in for a few minutes, you are ready to go. As my last year I’m proud of what we have done, but hopefully we can keep playing.”
The game will start at 3:30 p.m. in Evanston, Ill.
