The Wisconsin Badgers continued their momentum from their dominating performance over UW-Green Bay on Sunday by controlling the game from beginning to end and dispatching of Ohio State 3-1.
The win evens Wisconsin's record at .500 with an 8-8-2 overall mark and an important Big Ten win to get them in position to qualify for the Big Ten tournament with a win over Northwestern Friday on the road. It was Wisconsin's first home win since Sept. 17.
Wisconsin was able to control the ball against the Buckeyes and take advantage early on. Senior Amy Vermeulen beat Ohio State goalie Staci Sinkway off a feed from junior Allison Preiss to give UW an early 1-0 lead. For Vermeulen, the goal marked her team-leading seventh goal on the season and gave her team a rare 1-0 lead at halftime.
"I think what we have been missing all year is an early goal in the first half," Vermeulen said. "We have always played like a second half team, where we get behind and we have to come back. So, it was good to get an early goal to get us started off on a high note."
After halftime, Wisconsin added some much needed insurance. Preiss snuck in between defenders and was able to secure the ball. She then passed it to junior Katy Lindenmuth, who was able to finish the play for the score.
Just six minutes later, Lindenmuth found a streaking Taylor Walsh down the right side, who was then able to fake out the goalkeeper for a wide-open goal. The Badgers maintained a three-goal lead until the 83rd minute when the Buckeyes ended the clean sheet with a score of their own. However, Ohio State was unable to get any closer in the game's waning minutes.
For Lindenmuth, her sixth goal of the year and the Badger win was a great way to celebrate her 22nd birthday on Sunday.
"We had won a couple great battles today," Lindenmuth said. " (On the goal), the ball spun out to Allison (Preiss) and she played it and I happened to be in the right spot at the right time. She played a great ball and it worked out for us. …It felt great to finally come out and finish some shots. We've created a lot of chances and we've had trouble finishing them."
In goal for Wisconsin, sophomore Lynn Murray had another stellar game for Wisconsin as she totaled four saves. For Murray, the solid game combined with the victory was long overdue.
"It's about time, that's the only thing you can say about it," Murray said. "We came out and really needed this one and we played like there was no pressure. That's what we needed to do and I am real proud of us for doing that. When we're tied, our team tends to get down on themselves and start worrying about things. The fact that we still had a lead even after that last goal was scored was big for us and was a pretty new experience for us."
Although she didn't score a goal, Preiss had another big game for Wisconsin. It was her second straight game with two assists and gives her a team-leading eight assists on the year.
"[Allison has been playing] with a lot of momentum," head coach Dean Duerst said. "She gets on the end of the ball and you can see how she sneaks in places. She is one of those crafty players that shows up and then has great timing to be in the right place at the right time. [Preiss] has got a nose around the goal and for the goal. She's just one of those players that has consistently gotten those points."
After losing its last two conference matches, Sunday served as a bit of a redemption game for a Wisconsin team looking to sneak its way into the Big Ten Tournament.
"We really showed the will to win today and put goals in," Duerst said. "It just shows what our team is capable of. We played a complete game and that was nice for them at a critical time to play the most important soccer they can."
