In the world of college football, Alabama remains the only constant. Week eight of college football marked one landscape-changing upset and shake-up to the rankings at the top.
Five-on-five, Wisconsin played well enough. It battled for loose pucks, tracked back to shut down odd-man rushes and got traffic in front of the net to disrupt the opposing goaltender’s eyes and rhythm. The Badgers allowed a goal, but they scored one, too. It wasn’t a stellar performance, but it was good enough to have a chance at a win.
“They throw the ball a lot,” junior linebacker Zack Baun said. The No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers (3-1 Big Ten, 5-2 overall) will see plenty of throws as they travel to Chicago in a showdown with Big Ten West leader Northwestern (4-1, 4-3) at Ryan Field.
Earlier this week, freshman forward Sophie Shirley was named the National Third Star and the WCHA Rookie of the Week after scoring three goals in two games against Princeton last weekend. Shirley scored both game winners in the series to lead Wisconsin to a sweep and, with Clarkson’s loss, the No. 1 ranking in the country.
Wisconsin enters Evanston with momentum and divisional supremacy on the line — the Badgers and Wildcats are in a four-way tie for first in the Big Ten West, and a win for Wisconsin would keep it in pole position in the race for Indianapolis.
With both teams sitting on one conference loss entering the back half of the season, Wisconsin's matchup with Northwestern could be key to determining who makes it to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game. Ryan Field has been a house of horrors for the Badgers in recent years. Here are the keys for each team as they look to escape with a win.
By numbers alone, Wisconsin’s men’s hockey team was always going to be reliant on its underclassmen this year.
According to a report from The Wisconsin Radio Network, junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook is in concussion protocol and his status for Saturday’s game against Northwestern is in jeopardy.
When the Wisconsin men’s basketball team took the floor for warm-ups before the “Red and White Scrimmage” Sunday, one of the first songs to play over the loudspeakers was Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” It was an apt choice for this year’s team, one that finds itself in uncharted territory. After a 2017-2018 season full of injuries, heartbreaking losses and countless ups and downs, the 2018-2019 squad returns with a chip on their shoulder.
Alex Hornibrook is not the problem with Wisconsin’s offense. And no, the current blue-chip commit Graham Mertz will not instantly transform the Badgers into Alabama. For the past three years, fans have complained about Hornibrook any time the offense has struggled.
It would not be controversial to claim that the fullback is by far the most important position not just in football, but in all of sports.
Lighting struck twice for the Badgers, once again from the boot of Noah Melick. For the second straight game, Melick scored a fantastic strike in double overtime, propelling the Wisconsin Badgers (5-2-0 Big Ten, 8-5-2 overall) to a 2-1 over the Northwestern Wildcats (0-5-3, 4-8-5). Melick’s second straight game-winning goal in overtime came in a similar one from his stunner against Michigan. A long ball from junior defender Zach Klacnick bounced into the path of the freshman forward at the edge of the box.
The Wisconsin Badgers women’s soccer team (6-2-3 Big Ten, 12-3-3 overall) concluded their regular season with a 2-1 loss on the road against Ohio State (6-2-3, 9-5-3). Both teams entered the game in good form with Wisconsin unbeaten in its previous seven games and the Buckeyes picking up only one loss over their last 10. Ohio State took the lead in only the ninth minute of the game when a low cross from senior midfielder Eleanor Gabriel found sophomore forward Marissa Birzon behind the Wisconsin back line. With a move taking her past the flying Jordyn Bloomer, Birzon found herself with an easy finish on an open net to put the Buckeyes in front.
As a freshman, it took Sean Dhooghe 22 games and three months to score four goals for the UW men's hockey team. On the first road trip of his sophomore year, it took him just five and a half periods.
The 2018-2019 men’s basketball season began in earnest Sunday at the Kohl Center as the Badgers took part in the annual Red and White scrimmage.
When the Wisconsin secondary came out for their finals warm-ups, starting safeties Reggie Pearson and Scott Nelson came out without pads while D’Cota Dixon looked like a coach instead of a player. With all three safeties out for the game, the question loomed on who was going to step up at strong safety for an injury riddled secondary.
The No. 23 Wisconsin Badgers (3-1 Big Ten, 5-2 overall) came into Saturday’s game with the Illinois Fighting Illini (1-3, 3-4) without their top three safeties — D’Cota Dixon, Scott Nelson and Reggie Pearson — and without top defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk. That proved to be no problem for the defense, as Jim Leonhard’s crew had five takeaways in the first half, leading to 21 points for the Badgers en route to a 49-20 win.
While Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson came out with a win for his Badgers to add to their undefeated season on Friday night, his son Patrick Johnson ended the game with a loss as the temporary equipment manager for the Tigers this weekend.
Noah Melick’s stunning game-winning goal in double overtime against the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines (3-2-1 Big Ten, 9-4-1 overall) sparked incredible celebrations for the Wisconsin Badgers (4-2, 7-5-2) as pulled off a 1-0 upset. A hopeful ball by junior midfielder Duncan Storey found Melick running into space in the 108th minute.
The Wisconsin Badgers women’s soccer team (6-1-3 Big Ten, 12-2-3 Overall) continued their good run of form with a 1-0 win over Nebraska (4-2-3 Big Ten, 8-5-4 Overall) in their final home game of the season, extending their unbeaten streak to seven games.
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