Coming off a 2-0 loss to Ohio State over the weekend, a midweek non-conference game awaits the Wisconsin men’s soccer team, this time against in-state rival the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Milwaukee (5-8-2) has a dynamic midfielder in senior Laurie Bell, who was Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year last season. Bell has a good understanding of where he is on the field and where he can best beat an opposing team.
“When he turns and faces up to goal, he’s got a good shot,” junior midfielder Drew Conner said.
Bell has scored only two goals with three assists on the year, but scored 13 goals and had 30 points over the course of last season.
Although he has not been able to find the net, Wisconsin (2-9-2) is still worried about the chances he is able to create for his team.
“He’s a handful. He’s just good at finding ways to score goals,” Wisconsin head coach John Trask said. “He just hasn’t been able to find the net as much this season.”
The Badgers don’t believe they will defend him any differently than they would for any other forward. But, Conner said Wisconsin will need to know where he is on the field at all times.
Slowing him down will be important for the Wisconsin defense, but the Badger offense looks to continue building on their chemistry to finally get some goals on the board. The scoring opportunities are there for Wisconsin, which comes as a result of getting to play together for a full season.
“It takes time to build chemistry like that, and I think it’s finally coming together,” freshman midfielder Mike Catalano said. “We’re starting to look better.”
Wisconsin has gone winless in its previous four games, but will be fired up for the in-state rivalry. The Badgers expect a scrappy game with the Panthers, similar to the NCAA tournament game Wisconsin played at home against the Panthers last fall, which was the last time the two teams met and brought a 1-0 win for the Badgers.
“There were a lot of guys that competed in that game,” Trask said. “It’s going to be very hard fought, tightly contested game.”
Conner said the team is ready for a hard-fought game, but they really want to get another win on their record.
“It’s definitely a rivalry,” Conner said. “Those games always get really heated, we’re just really looking forward to trying to get this win.”
The Badgers are 1-1 against in-state opponents on the season, after beating UW-Green Bay last Wednesday and losing to Marquette earlier in the season.
Almost any in-state rivalry game will be tightly contested, but Trask understands that his players need to come out to play in order for Wisconsin to have a chance to win in one of its final home games.
“When you play the Marquettes, and the Green Bays and the UW-Milwaukees, you throw out the record,” Trask said. “It’s all about state pride, and hopefully our guys will be ready and up for it.”
The past five games have been close for UW, so this one should be no different. A win could give the Badgers momentum to close out the season, while a loss would extend their winless streak to five games.
This is the last nonconference game for the Badgers before closing out their season with three conference games.
The Badgers and Panthers will face off at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the McClimon Complex.
