After enduring two straight tough losses and four years of frustration, the Wisconsin men's soccer team is leaving its lingering troubles behind. The team will put it all on the line for one high-stake game, playing Indiana tonight for the right to be crowned Big Ten champions.
The chance to go out on top with a win and the school's first Big Ten Championship since 1995 is something the eight Wisconsin seniors have wanted since arriving to campus freshmen year. It's only fitting that in their final regular season game, the prospect of playing for the Big Ten title comes to fruition.
"When all those guys came in as freshmen that was one of their goals — to get to the NCAA Tournament and win a Big Ten Championship," Wisconsin head coach Jeff Rohrman said. "It's a credit to how they've persevered these last couple of years, and they're very excited and happy about the opportunity they have in front of them."
Ninety minutes of intense, grueling soccer and a talented No. 20 Indiana team (11-4-2, 3-1-1 Big Ten) stand between the Badgers and destiny.
"I think if you were going to script [these four years], I don't know if you could script it any better than that," Rohrman said.
On a night that commemorated the contributions made by its senior class, Wisconsin (9-6-2, 3-1-1 Big Ten) couldn't finish the job Tuesday against UW-Green Bay. Twice Wisconsin held goal advantages in the second half, but UW-Green Bay capitalized on some Badger miscues late to pull off the 3-2 upset. Despite the frustration of losing in his final home game as a Badger, defenseman Andrew Cardona is looking forward to Friday's match.
"[The game] was very frustrating," Cardona said. "We just want the win, and it was just tough being up both times and letting it slip away, but it's all right. I mean it's tough, but at the same time a big game like this on Friday kind of gets you pumped up to play again."
Although historically Wisconsin hasn't faired well against Indiana, going 3-28-3 against the Hoosiers and 1-15-2 in Bloomington, Ind., the Badgers know they can play with the best, and in exciting games like this, no team can be considered the favorite.
"It's two teams of high-quality competing — anything can happen," Rohrman said. "As long as we're out there, we have a chance to win with … focus and concentration and playing the way I know we can, it should be a great college soccer game."
Indiana is led by a balanced offensive attack featuring redshirt freshman Darren Yeagle and senior Kevin Robson. Yeagle is leading the team in both goals (6) and points (14), while Robson is not far behind with five goals and 11 points. Six other Hoosiers have scored at least two goals.
Wisconsin knows that in order to have a chance against the deep Indiana attack, its defense needs to step up and bring the level of play that was lacking in Tuesday's loss. But if the Hoosiers do get an early lead, the Badgers, Rohrman says, have a potent enough attack to score some goals of their own.
Controlling the ball and possession as well as playing actively to create some scoring opportunities are the keys to victory.
"I think we have to be good on our toes, and we have to take our chances on net," Rohrman said. "If we move the ball quickly, move off the ball well — play the one, two touches, then I think we're going to be all right. We can cause them some problems."
The seniors, through four hard years of work and perseverance, brought the Wisconsin program back to respectability. Now they have a chance to cap their regular season careers with a win.
"It has been very up and down for the seniors," Cardona said. "It's kind of nice that we have the chance to go out and do the best we've ever done here. That's all we're really hoping for."