The UW women’s soccer team looks to rebound from a disappointing Rocky Rococo Classic beginning with Big Ten conference play this weekend against Indiana and Purdue.
The Hoosiers (2-3) visit the Badgers (4-2-1) coming off consecutive victories last weekend. Indiana defeated in-state rival Butler last Friday in Indianapolis behind goals from Kristen Zmijewski, Missy Vierling, and Megan Pipkens. Senior goalkeeper Shaunna Daugherty posted the shutout with help from sophomore Lauren Fabbro, who came in to play the final 13 minutes of the game.
Pipkens, a freshmen defender and last year’s Miss Soccer in the state of Michigan, is the team’s leading scorer, with two goals and one assist. She is also part of a defense that has allowed only 3 goals all season. Daugherty, IU’s starting goalkeeper, has allowed only two goals all season in over 300 minutes of action. Backup Stacey Van Boxmeer, a member of the U-19 National Team in Canada, has allowed only one goal in 135 minutes and may see some action against the Badgers.
The Hoosier offense, which has struggled at times this year, is lead by Zmijewski and junior midfielder Kim Grodek. Grodek, an All-Big Ten Tournament selection last year, has been held scoreless through five games despite taking 16 shots. Zmijewski, a sophomore forward, is without an assist and has scored only one goal on 12 shots. The Hoosiers were shut out in their first three games of the season and are converting only six percent of their shots.
On Sunday, the Badgers welcome another visiting team from the state of Indiana, as Purdue (4-1-1) visits for a 1 p.m. game in Madison. The Boilermakers are riding a three-game winning streak that includes last Sunday’s drubbing of Evansville by a score of 8-0. In their victory over the Purple Aces, the Boilermakers broke the school scoring record, set back in 2000 against Valparaiso, and showed a balanced attack that saw seven different players score.
Purdue’s offense has been tearing it up, scoring 16 goals during their three-game winning streak, and will be a tough test for the Badger defense. The offense is lead by senior Annette Kent, who has scored five goals on the season to increase her career total to 27 — the best in team history. Kent, a Big Ten All-Tournament selection last season, also has five career multi-goal games and 67 career points, both team records. Senior Courtney Coppedge (four goals) and junior Lauren Sesselmann (team leader in assists) have added to the explosive offense.
The Purdue defense has also been solid, allowing only three goals all year, including three straight shutouts. The Boilermakers, led by senior Mary Masek and redshirt freshman Sharon Pagorek, have allowed only 20 shots over their last three games, but are sure to be more heavily tested by Wisconsin’s experienced offense. Freshman Lauren Mason and Junior Maureen Carey have split time in-net all year, with both keepers allowing two goals.
The Badgers enter this weekend looking to improve on their finishing around the net. Last weekend, the Badgers finished 0-1-1 despite outshooting Iowa State and Nebraska, 25-8 and 12-8, respectively. The Badgers also held a 16-5 advantage in corner kicks over the weekend.
“The good news is that the team knew that [finishing] was an area that we needed to work on,” head coach Dean Duerst said. “We just have to concentrate on getting more shots on frame.”
The Badgers will welcome back leading scorer Jenny Kundert this weekend after the senior sat out the Nebraska game with a leg injury. She will team with freshman Emily Kintzer, who scored both Badger goals last weekend, in an attempt to give freshman goalie Stefani Szczechowski some offensive support.
Despite last weekend’s disappointing tournament, the Badgers are confident entering the Big Ten season.
“One of our goals this year was to not lose a Big Ten game at home,” Duerst said. “We’re looking to beat Indiana and use that win as a boost of confidence going into the Purdue game.”
