The Wisconsin women’s soccer team (7-1-2 Big Ten, 2-0-1 overall) continued a superb start to the season, playing to a draw against Michigan and defeating Michigan State over the weekend during a two-match road trip.
The No. 18 Badgers headed to Ann Arbor, Mich. Friday night to take on the No. 13 Wolverines. The match ended in a scoreless draw.
Michigan (7-1-1, 1-0-1) had won 16 of its last 18 home matches, but could not come up with a victory against Wisconsin. The two teams went to double overtime, yet neither could come up with the elusive game-winning goal.
The game was a defensive struggle throughout, with Wisconsin managing only eight shots on goal and Michigan taking just three, a season low.
“I always tell them that I don’t want this ever be an excuse but I think they got a little older today and I think that’s pretty exciting,” UW head coach Paula Wilkins said. “I think they took another step in terms of mentality.”
Despite 110 minutes of grueling action on Friday night, the Badgers did not appear fatigued on Sunday afternoon against Michigan State (7-2-2, 1-2-0). Traveling down the road to East Lansing, Mich., UW shut out the Spartans 2-0 behind a pair of goals from sophomore midfielder Kinley McNicoll.
McNicoll tallied a goal in each half, the second of which came on a penalty kick in the 69th minute to put the game out of reach.
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Genevieve Richard earned her third shutout of the year with a six-save effort.
The Badgers now have a nine-game road win streak. Their early success has put them in a position to contend for a conference title in a talented Big Ten pool.
Wisconsin comes home to the McClimon Soccer Complex to play No. 8 Penn State Friday night at 7 p.m.
UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.
