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Needing a win to earn a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, the Wisconsin women’s soccer team hosts Northwestern Friday at the McClimon Soccer Complex for its final regular season game.

Wisconsin (9-8-1, 3-6-0 Big Ten) enters Friday’s match following a pair of disappointing losses on the road last weekend against Minnesota and Iowa.

The Badgers fell 2-1 Friday against the Gophers despite being the first opposing team to score a goal at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium this season. Sunday’s match with Iowa was an ugly 3-0 loss that saw the Hawkeyes score once in the first half and twice in the second.

“The loss against Iowa was disappointing from a performance standpoint,” UW head coach Paula Wilkins said. “I haven’t done a good job of organizing on the road for the second game. I thought we fought really hard on Friday, but we didn’t come out with the energy we needed on Sunday.”

With the two losses, Wisconsin dropped from sixth to 10th in the Big Ten standings and now needs a victory in Friday’s match with Northwestern (9-8-1, 4-5-0).

“I think it’s always a challenge to focus after a tough weekend,” Wilkins said. “I think it’s important for the upperclassmen to get the team focused. Most of the changes come from within, and I think they’re up for the challenge.”

Northwestern enters Friday’s match following a loss of its own, a 2-0 defeat also at the hands of Minnesota. The Wildcats were outshot 14-8 by the Gophers and managed only three shots-on-goal in the game.

The loss for Northwestern kept them from clinching a tournament berth as well, setting the stage for an exciting game Friday night.

“It’s not going to be an easy game,” senior goalkeeper Jamie Klages said. “They need to win to get in as well. It’s going to be a bloodbath this weekend, [and] I’m excited for it.”

Northwestern presents a different challenge for Wisconsin than recent opponents such as Minnesota and Michigan State. Whereas Minnesota is known for its stifling defense and Michigan State features two of the best forwards in the nation, Northwestern is in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten on both sides of the ball.

“I think they are just overall a good team,” Wilkins said. “I think that’s more difficult to deal with because you can’t focus your energy on one space. They have the ability to attack from the back and be dangerous up front with a bunch of different players.”

Offensively, a pair of seniors lead the Wildcats. Amanda Hoffmann leads the team in goals with six, and Jenny Dunn is the leading scorer with 14 points.

As a team, Northwestern has played about as evenly with its opponents as its 9-8-1 record would indicate, scoring 24 goals while allowing 26.

For Wisconsin, the key to preparing for Friday’s match with Northwestern is to maintain an inward focus. Rather than worrying about how to defend or attack such a balanced team, the Badgers are looking at what they can do to maximize their performance and their personal abilities.

“As a team, more than looking at what they’re going to do, we have to come ready to play,” Klages said. “There’s nothing better than being able to control your own fate. The Big Ten tournament just starts a little bit earlier for us this season.”

For Klages and fellow seniors Taylor Walsh, Tricia Krombach and Sheri Ferron, Friday’s game means another thing: senior night. Friday night against Northwestern will be the last time these four seniors suit up for the cardinal and white in front of their home fans.

“It’s going to be pretty emotional regardless of the outcome,” Walsh said. “No matter if we win or lose, it’s definitely my last home game. I still remember my first one, so it’s going to mean a lot to me.”