With just four games remaining in the regular season, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team takes a break from conference play to face in-state opponent UW-Milwaukee.
The Badgers (1-2-2 Big Ten, 3-9-2 overall) look to earn their fourth win of the season, all of which have come on the road. Wisconsin won just three games last year, so to tally their fourth would objectively solidify improvement.
The UW-Milwaukee Panthers have dropped six of the last seven games to the Badgers and were shut out in each of those losses. The all-time series sits at 17-14-7 in Wisconsin’s favor.
The Panthers (1-4-1 Horizon League, 3-8-2 overall) hope to end their three-game losing streak and also attain their fourth win of the season as they host Wisconsin on Wednesday. The last two games Milwaukee lost were home games in which they were shut out. Milwaukee, much like the Badgers, is not efficient at home and has only won one game there this season.
Leading the way for the Panthers are senior and freshman midfielders Declan Rodriguez and Francesco Saporito. Both Rodriguez and Saporito have eight points on 28 shots. Rodriguez has three goals and two assists while the freshman from Alberta, Saporito, has scored two goals to add to his four assists.
The Badgers are coming off a short road stint where they won a match in double overtime against Saint Louis, 2-1, but also dropped a match to Big Ten opponent Ohio State, 0-2. It appears that Wisconsin is playing with more aggression and camaraderie this year, however the results have yet to come. There is still a lot of hope considering the three leading point scorers are just sophomores.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="1c4a96d0-77b0-11e5-8dcd-13e2466b377a"}}
Christopher Mueller leads the Badger squad with 11 points, four goals and three assists, and has played a solid midfield all year. 2014 Big Ten All-Freshman players Tom Barlow and Mark Segbers are tied for second in points with eight apiece.
Look for the Badgers to undermine the meaning of home-field advantage on Wednesday at Engelmann Stadium. Kickoff is Wednesday at 8 p.m.
