The struggles continued at home for the Wisconsin men’s soccer team as they dropped another match at McClimon Complex, losing 2-0 to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Tuesday night.

All four games at McClimon have resulted in shutouts for the Badgers, leaving a lot of uncertainty for a team hosting the 10th-ranked Maryland Terrapins Sunday.

UW head coach John Trask was not happy with the team’s performance.

“This is not what you expect from this group of players, and I’ll take full responsibility for that,” said Trask. “Sometimes it can be easier to focus on the road, but at the end of the day you have to handle your business at home.”

Trask said he was embarrassed for the home crowd of 412, which he commented was solid for a Tuesday night, adding that the team needs to do better for them in the future.

Most of the problems scoring Tuesday didn’t stem from their inability to finish, but their lack of opportunities for time-and-room shots. Despite five total shots in the game by the Badgers, only one was on goal, leaving SIUE goalkeeper Kyle Dal Santo relatively untested in the match. Their defense was able to hold off much of the cougar attack in the first half until Devyn Jambga snuck through to put in a header with three minutes left before halftime.

The second half remained pretty consistent with the Badgers recording only one more shot and the cougars notching one more goal late during a big press by the Badgers. Opportunities were slim to none in the game as a whole, but Wisconsin came out with a renewed fight in the second half and put the pressure to defend on SIUE.

Several promising crosses went through the box but were unable to find the finishing touches the team needed to level the game. The Badgers’ best opportunity came from a volley by midfielder Drew Conner in the 59th minute from just outside the box, but the Cougar keeper stopped the shot with sound ball control.

The last goal by Garet Christianson in the 86th minute brought a sizzling close to the match.

Trask attributed much of Wisconsin’s offensive inefficiency to the amount of traveling the team has done recently. The Badgers’ game against SIUE was their first game back in Madison since a four-game away stretch. They’ll have a chance to settle it as four of their next five games are in Madison.

“We were hoping by getting the guys together for a walk this morning and showing them some video they would be ready,” said Trask, “but bottom line — they just weren’t firing today.”

One bright spot for the Badgers came from their consistent freshman defenseman Sam Brotherton, who proved to be a dominating force for much of the game. Trask said he thought the defense remained relatively rigid behind the play of Brotherton.

But going forward the team needs to play with more passion, Trask said.

“We will play with some passion Sunday. I can guarantee you that,” Trask said. “We would like to come out with some better play as well. I know these guys — I believe in these guys — but that wasn’t the Badgers tonight.”

The match against Maryland kicks off at noon Sunday, Sept. 27 at McClimon and will be televised on BTN.