After suffering from a seven-game winless streak, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team finally found a way to victory in a 1-0 win over in-state rival Green Bay Tuesday night.

The team’s effort ended up being more defensive than offensive, as freshman forward Tom Barlow scored early for the Badgers (2-7-1, 0-3-0 Big Ten) in the 22nd minute and the team was forced to hold the lead for the next 68 minutes.

The goal, Barlow’s third of the season and first in five games, came off of a great pass through the Green Bay back line from fellow freshman forward Mark Segbers. After a favorable deflection, the ball found the back of the net for Barlow.

This wasn’t the first time the two freshmen from St. Louis hooked up this season, and it won’t be the last, as the two have great chemistry on the field.

“Mark [Segbers] is so fast and he did a great job of beating a couple guys and sliding a nice ball into me,” Barlow said. “I got a bit lucky on the shot with the deflection, but a goal is a goal. Although it wasn’t the best goal, I think we are just relieved the ball finally rolled our way.”

Despite UW scoring a goal in the first half, the Badgers were still sluggish while the Phoenix were on the attack. In the first half, Green Bay outshot Wisconsin 8-2.

Even with the lead heading into halftime, UW head coach John Trask was not happy with the team’s performance. He let them know that, and despite not scoring in the second half, the team adjusted, and the Badgers finished the match much more aggressively.

“In the first half they were taking it to us. We kind off got to a slow start and coach got on us at half time,” Barlow said. “He talked about being the aggressor. We came out in the second half with a little more intensity, and I think we did a better job coming out firing.”

In the second half, Wisconsin was able to find six shots on goal, and their offensive pressure was rewarded with five corner kicks after just two in the first half.

However, with the Badgers not being able to extend their lead in the second half, it was the defensive effort that ultimately helped hold the lead and carry them to a much-needed victory.

That second-half defensive effort was without senior defender David Caban, as Trask and his staff decided to give Caban the second half off to give some freshmen the opportunity to log their first minutes of the season.

“We really needed to give some live action to these guys,” Trask said. “It was always our plan to play [redshirt freshman defender] Zacc Roelke and I thought he was pretty solid today as a left back in his second half performance. We have to continue to bleed in these young guys. It’s not just Mike Catalano, Mark [Segbers], and the guys that are starting.”

Replacing Caban on the back line was not going to be easy, especially with how important the defensive effort was going to be in the second half. Coming into this year, Caban had appeared in 57 games in three years for this Wisconsin team, and experience cannot be easily replaced.

But Roelke stepped in and gelled with the Badger back line.

“It was tough, but we were able to help Roelke out a lot and he was able to help us,” junior defender Adam Lauko said. “He’s a redshirt freshman, but he’s been around and he played a lot last spring. He has experience and it showed tonight.”

Along with the backline play, the shutout would not have been possible without superb play from the goalkeeper, as freshman Adrian Remeniuk recorded three saves in a his shutout performance.

“I thought Adrian was exceptional,” Trask said. “It didn’t seem like we were really at the races when the game started, but I thought Adrian kept us in the game, which is the job of a goalkeeper. Compliments to him, because there were a couple of tough situations for him to deal with in the first half, but he made the saves and gave us a chance.”

With the win, Wisconsin sees an opportunity to turn this season around, but they also know that they still must take it one game at a time. Still, the win still offered a big psychological boost.

“It was much more important for the players,” Trask said. “We know what we are going through as a coaching staff. But hey, let’s be honest, winning is a hell of a lot better than losing.”