The University of Wisconsin-Madison men’s soccer team put an end to their six-game loss streak on Saturday night, shutting out the Nittany Lions and converting on both of their shots on goal to earn a 2-0 win.
Junior Thomas Raimbault got the game started early for the Badgers, firing a ball into the right side of the goal from well outside the penalty box. The striker’s third goal of the season came in just the eighth minute.
Wisconsin’s lead was extended in the 42nd minute with the help of sophomore defender Ryan Quintos, who tucked a perfectly timed header off of a corner kick past the Penn State keeper’s outstretched arms. Freshman midfielder Matthew Zachemski took the corner kick, finding the head of the Badger defender who tallied his third goal of the season.
Wisconsin maintained its lead, and despite being outshot by the Nittany Lions 8-3 and 3-2 on goal, their accuracy on their two opportunities earned them the three points.
This win comes at a crucial point in the season, with only one game left to play before the Big Ten Tournament. Seven out of the 11 teams in the conference will make the tournament, and with Wisconsin currently sitting in eighth place, they must beat seventh-place Michigan to secure the seventh-seed spot. A tie or loss won’t suffice. Northwestern must also lose one of their two games.
The Badgers will host the Wolverines on Sunday at 1 p.m., and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
