Coming into the 2015 season, the battle for the starting goalkeeper position for the University of Wisconsin-Madison men’s soccer team looked like it was going to be a two-man race.

Redshirt junior Casey Beyers and sophomore Adrian Remeniuk split game time last season, playing in nine and 11 games respectively. Beyers started the season as the No. 1 option, but Remeniuk also saw game time in the second half of the Badgers 2-0 loss to Xavier on Aug. 30.

But a new goalkeeper has emerged from the ranks to contend for the starting role along with Beyers and Remeniuk: redshirt junior Connor Revsbeck.

Revsbeck began the season as third string, but the Lakeville, Minnesota native started his first two games in his Wisconsin career on Sept. 4 and Sept. 6 as the Badgers lost both matches to Santa Clara, 2-1 (OT), and UC-Davis, 3-2.

Revsbeck was happy to finally get his chance between the sticks for the Badgers, even if it was in a losing fashion.

“It was nice,” he said. “Obviously the results didn’t go our way, but it was good to go out there and help support the team.

The shot stopper didn’t even know he was going to be starting two weekends ago. Revsbeck said he found out he was getting the nod for both games when the Badgers landed in California, giving him roughly a day to prepare for his first career start for Wisconsin.

Revsbeck transferred from UW-Milwaukee after his freshman season. He made five appearances for the Panthers, and couldn’t compete for more playing time due to injuries. He said he’s trained hard to get healthy and give himself the opportunity to play.

Revsbeck said he transfered from UW-Milwaukee not because he didn’t like playing for the team there, but rather for a greater challenge academically, Revsbeck said.

Head coach John Trask was pleased with the way Revsbeck performed in his first two appearances for the Badgers.

“I thought [Revsbeck] had a gutsy performance, especially [against Santa Clara],” Trask said. “He made a couple of excellent saves to keep us in the game.”

Compared to Beyers and Remeniuk, Trask said Revsbeck is likely the quickest of the goalkeepers, due in part to his shorter stature — standing at 6-foot-2, while Byers towers at 6-foot-5.

“[Revsbeck]’s quick — more of a reaction save type of guy,” Trask said. “We thought that in the situation out West, we would need a little bit more than a dominant force in the box.”

Beyers and Remeniuk are top goalkeepers in their own respect, each bringing something different to the table. Beyers offers the dominant, looming force that Trask talked about. Beyers rarely loses aerial battles in the box, often using his large frame to snag balls out of the air before the on-rushing heads of attackers can get a piece of it.

Remeniuk, one of most talented sophomore goalkeepers in the college game, uses his athleticism and communication skills to make his presence known when he’s busy patrolling the box for the Badgers.

Last season for Wisconsin, Beyers posted a 1-5-2 record, had a 2.0 goals against average, racked up 33 saves and notched one shutout in his eight appearances. Remeniuk, on the other hand, managed a 2-7-1 record, had a 1.6 goals against average, recorded 33 saves and posted two shut outs in his 10 appearances.

So far in the 2015 season, each of the three goalkeepers have seen minutes, but no one has stood out thus far to solidify that No. 1 role. This has left Trask with the predicament of deciding which keeper is playing the best at the moment.

“As they say in hockey, you’re going with the hot goalkeeper,” he said.

The Badgers have already conceded eight goals in four games this season, something that needs to be addressed for Wisconsin. In order for that to happen, however, it all starts with the goalkeeper, said Revsbeck.

“We need to communicate more at the back line and make sure everybody’s one cohesive unit and just go from there,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll start getting more results.”

Beyers and Remeniuk are likely to get most of the minutes the rest of the season, especially with the start of Big Ten play on the horizon, Trask said, but Revsbeck made the most of his opportunity and will look to continue to push the level of play of the other goalkeepers.