[media-credit name=’GREG DIXON/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]

Following a pair of disappointing losses at home last weekend, the Wisconsin women’s soccer team hits the road for the first time in the Big Ten with matches Friday at Ohio State and Sunday at Penn State.

UW (6-4-1, 0-2-0 Big Ten) started conference play last weekend with a 2-1 loss to Illinois and a 1-0 loss to Purdue. Despite the setbacks, the Badgers enter this weekend’s games positive and focused on the task ahead.

“We just decided that we need to look forward to this weekend,” senior Taylor Walsh said. “We’ve had some really competitive practices this week, and that’s a good start just to get our momentum going into this weekend.”

The Badgers struggled to get things going early in games last weekend, something they have had a problem with in each of their four losses. The team struggled to maintain control of the ball and let its opponents dictate the play in the first half, allowing them to get an early lead.

“We worked a lot on defense and keeping possession,” freshman Leigh Williams said. “Hopefully, we’ll keep possession and make the other teams run around a little more this weekend and chase us.”

Not only are the Badgers moving past last week’s games, they are focusing solely on their first game against the Buckeyes. While Sunday’s match with perennial Big Ten power Penn State is a big game for Wisconsin, head coach Paula Wilkins has her team focused on Friday’s matchup.

“[We are] looking at one game at a time. I think that’s always what we do,” Wilkins said. “It starts here in training. I think if we get some confidence back here in training in the little things that we can do well, then we’re going to be good for the weekend.”

Ohio State (4-4-2, 1-0) enters the weekend on a four-game winning streak after beating Indiana last Sunday on the road to open the Big Ten season. The Buckeyes are led offensively by senior Lisa Collison with four goals and two assists for a total of 10 points.

As they travel to Columbus, the Badgers will face a tough test as they look to finally earn their first road win of the season. Furthermore, a win this weekend would be the first conference road win for Wisconsin since winning at Minnesota on Oct. 1, 2006.

“It would be nice to get our first road win,” Wilkins said. “It’s going to be one of our focuses, but to be honest, we just want to do our details right, and whether it’s home or away, get better as a team.”

Wisconsin will end its trip against No. 25 Penn State (6-5, 1-0-0), a team Wilkins is very familiar with. Prior to coaching the Badgers, Wilkins spent six seasons as head coach of the Nittany Lions and seven as an assistant coach.

Much like last season when Penn State traveled to Wisconsin, Wilkins’ team is motivated to try to get a win for her as she faces her old team for the first time back at Jeffrey Field.

“Everyone is really fired up for that game,” Walsh said. “Last year, we played really well against Penn State and with our squad this year I think we’ll be even more pumped up. There will be a lot of people there, and it’s going to be a really good atmosphere to play in.”

Penn State enters the weekend having lost three of its last four games, with the sole win coming in its Big Ten opener Friday against Indiana. Two of the Lions’ losses, however, came against teams ranked in the top five, as they suffered a 3-1 loss to top-ranked Notre Dame and a 4-1 defeat against previously No. 4 Portland.

When looking at Penn State, Wilkins believes they are a better team than their recent losses indicate.

“From what I’ve seen on video they’re very dangerous up front, and they have a history of being a quality team,” Wilkins said. “I think they’re much better than their record shows, and playing those good teams has helped them to get even better.”