It’s been nearly 10 years, but the Big Ten women’s soccer tournament is finally coming back to Madison this week. UW will host the 2003 tournament, which features the top eight teams in the conference. Play will begin on Thursday and end in Sunday’s championship game at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
“We are excited to be able to host one of the best conferences in the country in this conference championship,” UW head coach Dean Duerst said.
The tournament kicks off Thursday at 10:30 a.m., when No. 2 seeded Illinois (13-3-2, 7-1-2) takes on No. 7 seeded Michigan State (12-7-0, 4-6-0). The Illini enter the tournament riding a five-game unbeaten streak that closed out the most successful regular season in team history. Illinois currently holds the No. 11 ranking in the NSCAA/Adidas coaches’ poll, the highest national ranking in program history.
Led by goalkeeper Leisha Alcia, who held opponents scoreless for a school record 470 minutes of game time, the Illinois defense recorded five consecutive shutouts — the longest streak in team history. Alcia, who leads the conference in shutouts (9) and goals against average (0.54), closed out the year with three consecutive shutouts.
“She’s one of the best,” Duerst said. “She allows her defense to make a lot of good plays, and then she’ll come up with the important decisions that she needs to.”
In the second game of the first round, No. 3 seeded Purdue (11-4-3, 6-2-2) will face No. 6 seeded Indiana (8-9-1, 4-5-1) Thursday at 1:30 p.m. The Boilermakers handed No. 1 seed Penn State its only conference loss of the season Sept. 26, defeating the Nittany Lions 3-1 behind two goals from leading scorer Lauren Sesselmann.
Though Penn State enters as the heavy favorite, Purdue has already proven it can beat the Nittany Lions, and Illinois also looks to have the talent to challenge the top seed.
“Of the other teams looking to win it outright, Purdue and Illinois have the next two chances to come through,” Duerst said. “I think one of those two teams will meet us in the final.”
Following the game between Purdue and Indiana, No. 4 seeded Michigan (7-6-6, 4-2-4) will take on No. 5 seeded Ohio State (12-3-3, 4-3-3) Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Last season, the Buckeyes upset the No. 2 seeded Wolverines in the first round of the Big Ten tournament, winning 3-2 in penalty kicks after the game was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation. Ohio State went on to win the tournament as a No. 7 seed, defeating Wisconsin 2-1 in the championship game.
The Buckeyes enter this year’s tournament following the most successful regular season campaign in school history. With an 8-0 non-conference record, Ohio State finished the regular season 12-3-3 and earned a No. 20 ranking in the most recent NSCAA/Adidas coaches’ poll.
Though Michigan finished the year nationally unranked, the Wolverines closed out the regular season with a 3-2 win over No. 3 ranked Notre Dame (19-1-1, 6-0-0), handing the Fighting Irish their only loss of the year.
In the final game of the first round, No. 8 seeded Wisconsin (10-8-1, 4-6-0) will face No. 1 seeded Penn State (16-2-2, 9-1-0) Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The Nittany Lions feature the top-ranked offense in the Big Ten, leading the conference in goals (58), points (160), and assists (44). With a 9-1 conference record, Penn State finished first in the Big Ten for the sixth consecutive season.
However, history favors the Badgers. Last season, Penn State entered the tournament as the top seed and squandered a three-goal lead in a 4-3 first-round loss to No. 8 seeded Illinois.
The last time the Big Ten tournament was played in Madison, the Badgers won the title in the inaugural 1994 tournament.
“Last year Illinois was the eight seed, and they ended up upsetting Penn State, so we know it can happen,” Duerst said. “You’re home; you’re hosting. We’ve got some great advantages here.”
Last season’s tournament displayed the parity that characterizes the Big Ten conference, as the favorite was upset in three of the four first-round matches, and No. 7 seeded Ohio State captured the title.
“On the day, anything can happen in this game,” Duerst said.
