With only five games remaining on its regular season schedule and a four-point margin of separation from Big Ten leader Penn State, the Wisconsin women’s soccer team’s performance in this weekend’s games will be crucial.

Friday night, the Badgers face Northwestern in Evanston, which will be followed by a Sunday matchup with Illinois in Champaign. The Badgers are currently ranked third in the Big Ten and have the potential to emerge as champions with a solid finish to the season.

Freshman forward Cara Walls, who was just named Big Ten Player of the Week for the third time this season, understands the magnitude of the upcoming contests.

“It’s basically on us,” Walls said. “Unless we don’t win the games, it’s like we basically have the opportunity to win the Big Ten.”

The 2-11 Wildcats, currently last in the Big Ten standings, are coming off a 1-0 victory over Michigan. In last season’s matchup with Wisconsin, they were shut out, 3-0. Despite her success in shutting out the Wildcats last season, senior goalkeeper Michele Dalton is hesitant to let that result unduly influence her preparation for the upcoming game.

“It’s good knowledge to have, but ultimately I go out as a goalkeeper and just try to play my game and not worry about past results, future results, you know, potentials, different circumstances,” Dalton said. “It’s about living in the moment and being completely and fully committed to what I’m doing at the time.”

The game figures to be a defensive struggle, as the Wildcats shut out five of their last seven opponents, while the Badgers have surrendered only four goals in their last seven contests. Senior forward Laurie Nosbusch noted that the Wildcats are a very organized team.

“It’s going to be difficult to break down their defense,” Nosbusch said.

A factor that could potentially break this apparent stalemate is the recent chemistry exhibited by Walls and Nosbusch. Nosbusch assisted Walls twice on goals in the Badger’s last two wins.

“She’s a great forward,” Nosbusch said. “She takes great angles, she makes good passes. … She’s an easy target to find.”

Badgers face off with talented Fighting Illini squad Sunday

Following their contest with the Wildcats, the Badgers travel to Champaign to take on the Fighting Illini, who are only one point behind Wisconsin in the Big Ten standings. Illinois is currently on a three-game win streak, highlighted by a 1-0 double overtime triumph over Michigan State in East Lansing.

Playing two games in three days may seem daunting, but Nosbusch noted that the task presents an enticing challenge of outlasting the opponent, as Illinois will be coming off a Friday game with Minnesota.

“It’s tough, but at the same time it’s a lot of fun just to know that the other team you’re playing played Friday, so Sunday feels kind of like a test of who can push themselves harder and push through being tired, so that makes it fun, too,” Nosbusch said.

Last season, the Badgers and Illini battled to a double overtime tie. For Dalton, replicating that success means treating each game as a separate entity, as opposed to modeling play based on past results.

“It’s good knowledge to have, but ultimately I got out as a goalkeeper and just try to play my game and not worry about past results, future results, you know, what have you, potentials, different circumstances. … It’s about living in the moment and being completely and fully committed to what I’m doing at the time,” Dalton said.

Illinois boasts a 5-1 record at home. Its recent success and razor-thin margin of separation from Wisconsin in the standings create a tense, pressure-wracked atmosphere for the Badgers, who know that leaving Champaign with a victory is crucial.

“It’s definitely pressure. We definitely can’t lose this. But I definitely think that makes us play better as a team,” Walls said.

For seniors, including Dalton, the stakes are even higher. This is their final opportunity to capture a Big Ten Championship.

“I’m playing as if there’s no tomorrow, and I’m playing so that when I look back on my career at Wisconsin, I have no regrets,” Dalton said.

If the Badgers aspire to advance far into the postseason this year, they must execute this weekend.

“These games are huge. Every game we play now is pretty much a must-win for us,” Nosbuch said.