Ending one of its most successful seasons to date, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team (4-3-0 Big Ten, 14-5-2 overall) fell 4-0 to No. 3-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1-3 ACC, 13-1-6) in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Badgers’ 14 wins overall were tied for fifth-best in school history, and they currently own the nation’s longest home unbeaten streak at 14 games. This year also marked the first time in 18 years they made the tournament.
But the year came to a disappointing close for the Badgers, who got shut out for just the second time all season, and surrendered a season-high four goals.
Notre Dame got the scoring started early, as junior forward Vince Cicciarelli lofted one over the head of senior goalkeeper Max Jentsch that found the back of the net in the seventh minute.
Just 15 minutes later, Notre Dame senior forward Harrison Shipp took a free kick from outside the 18-yard box that crossed the goal line just sneaking past the left goal post, giving the Fighting Irish a 2-0 lead.
The best Badgers scoring chance of the night came just about 10 minutes later. After a throw-in, the ball deflected off the head of a Fighting Irish defender, and back to redshirt senior midfielder Tomislav Zadro. Zadro was unable to control it and Notre Dame was able to enter the break keeping the lead at two.
The Badgers had other chances in the closing minutes of the half and into the second, but failed to convert on any all night.
The Fighting Irish struck early again, scoring nine minutes into the second half on a goal from sophomore midfielder Patrick Hodan off a set piece that Jentsch was unable to reach.
Shipp added his second goal of the night in the 65th minute, to increase the Irish lead to 4-0.
With the game out of reach, Badgers head coach John Trask subbed in many of his seniors, who were playing in their last collegiate game. Trask also inserted redshirt freshman goalkeeper Casey Beyers to replace Jentsch. Beyers had three shutouts and eight wins in 11 starts before losing the starting job down the stretch.
The Badgers will look to build on this successful season next year, and try to extend their home unbeaten streak.
UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.
