Wisconsin will open up Big Ten Tournament play Wednesday with a rematch against Illinois, whom the Badgers played to a scoreless tie last Friday.
Despite the final score, Wisconsin dominated the match Friday, compiling nearly triple the number of shots of Illinois. Yet, Wisconsin was unable to find the back of the net and could not beat Illinois sophomore goalkeeper Claire Wheatley. Wheatley, who finished fourth in the conference with 0.83 goals allowed per game, earned the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award.
Windy conditions certainly played a role in the Badgers inability to score, but after Wisconsin defeated Minnesota with four goals, the offense stalled down the stretch, scoring just two goals in its final three games.
The Badgers will have to turn to their seniors to ignite the offense. Senior forward Cara Walls has been explosive all year, finishing the regular season with 11 goals. Walls and redshirt senior forward Kodee Williams have been huge for the Badgers in clutch situations, each posting five game-winning goals, the highest mark in the Big Ten.
Wisconsin finished the regular season leading the conference in goals allowed (7), goals allowed average (0.37), and shutouts (14), making them arguably the best defense in the Big Ten. They are led by standout redshirt senior goalkeeper Genevieve Richards, who was just named the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year.
The Wisconsin defense will have to put forth another stout effort to hold off the Illini as their attack includes forward Jannelle Flaws, who earned her second straight Big Ten Forward of the Year award. She has found the back of the net 17 times this season, which is five more times than any other player in the conference.
In addition to Richard’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, she earned First Team All Big Ten honors, along with Walls, sophomore midfielder Rose Lavelle, and junior midfielder Kinley McNicoll. Junior defender Brianna Stelzer earned a Second Team All-Big Ten nod. This is only the third time in the school’s history that Wisconsin has had four players receive first team honors.
If the Badgers defeat the Illini, they will take on the winner of the Michigan-Minnesota game in the semifinal. The other side of the bracket contains Penn State, who won the conference by seven points. Penn State is certainly the favorite to win the tournament, but they may have to go through a Rutgers team that has one of the Big Ten’s best defenses.
The Big Ten is extremely deep this year, with talented teams from top to bottom. The tournament title is anyone’s to take, as even the top teams will face strong squads in the opening round.
Wisconsin’s contest against Illinois will kick off at 3:30 pm Wednesday afternoon on the campus of Purdue.
