[media-credit name=’Ryan Knickmeyer’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Aaron Witchger knows his soccer.

Although the sophomore midfielder may appear quiet and reserved, it isn’t difficult to get him talking about his sport, namely the English Premier League. Whether it’s discussing striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s transfer to Middlesborough or Arsenal’s formidable back line of Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Bisan Lauren and Kolo Toure, Witchger enjoys it all.

“I follow EPL the most (of anyone on the team),” Witchger said. “Everybody else likes to watch MLS and stuff like that just because they know players from their hometown, and our coaches know players on MLS and stuff. I just like watching good soccer, and I think EPL is basically more substantial to watch than MLS because it’s a lot faster play, a lot dirtier, it gets into the good soccer playing style.”

With his long hair, it’s no surprise that Witchger admires Frenchman and Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires.

“I love Pires and like Freddie Ljunberg, and Henry’s sick even though I’ll never compare to him,” Witchger said. “Just players like that, that are just skillful, finesse type players, definitely. Frank Lampard and Joe Cole from Chelsea too, I love him as well. It’s more like day to day on who you see, because everybody’s inspiring in what they do every once in awhile.”

For Witchger, skill and finesse were important early on in his soccer career. While Witchger lived in Wisconsin, he started playing with older kids, including UW-Milwaukee standout Trent Furtsch.

“I was the smallest one on the field until high school,” Witchger said. “It makes a lot of difference when you’re always the smallest player and you have to find different ways to beat guys, since you’re not going to be faster or bigger than them. So, it’s more like cheeky and finesse play, I should say.”

When things finally evened up for Witchger in high school, he took advantage. In four years at Edina High School in Minnesota, Witchger led his team to three state championships on his way to becoming a NSCAA/Adidas All-American. Despite his success, Wisconsin was the lone Division I school to offer Witchger a scholarship.

“Aaron was a little bit under the radar,” head coach Jeff Rohrman said. “He’s always played up an age group, so in terms of getting out and getting the exposure at what would typically be the under-17 age group, which is mostly juniors, he was already playing under-18. So, he was playing against some older kids and playing with older kids. So, he didn’t quite get the exposure that maybe a lot of the other kids did get.”

After a freshman season in which he assisted on three goals, Witchger has stepped up his play this year. After playing as a reserve in the season’s first three matches because of an ear problem, Witchger has cemented himself in the Wisconsin starting 11.

“I think last year was a little bit up and down for him, but he’s certainly grown in a lot of ways over this past year,” Rohrman said. “You can see this year just how good he can be.”

This past Sunday, Witchger tallied his first collegiate goal, the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over DePaul.

“It was basically the work of David Martinez and Nick Van Sicklen to set up the goal,” Witchger said. “They had a great combination play on the right hand side. Nick got played through by David, and ‘Slick’ had a cross and it went right across the six (yard box). The goalie came out and deflected it with his hand right to me, on like the eight-yard line. Then I had a touch and then shot it on an open net.”

For Witchger, the finish was satisfying, but not exactly a dream goal.

“I’ll take what I can get, but … I’d rather have a more spectacular looking goal than an open net with nobody around me, but whatever,” Witchger said. “A goal is a goal. I’ll take the points, we’ll take the win and the shut out.”

After becoming a staple in the Badger midfield this season, Witchger will be counted on in the future even more. With the loss of seniors Nick Van Sicklen, Jed Hohlbein and David Martinez from Wisconsin at the end of the year, Witchger will need to step up.

“I think he’s kind of taken the bull by the horns with regard to everything,” Rohrman said. “It’s been a really neat thing to see with him, and I’m really happen for him that he’s kind of turned things around a little bit and discovered just what he’s capable of becoming. It’s just nice to see. He’s certainly able to do more, and I expect more certainly next year and the year after that too, because I think he can be one of the top players in this conference for sure.”