Coming off a week in which it posted big conference victories against Minnesota and Iowa, the Wisconsin women’s soccer team is looking to build on that momentum in its upcoming conference match against nationally-ranked Illinois.
Despite being ahead in the national polls, the No. 16 Illini (9-2-0, 2-1-0) come into town behind the unranked Badgers in the Big Ten standings.
For the Badgers (6-3-3, 3-0-1), currently being atop the conference standings is not something they will rest easily on. Especially, as coach Paula Wilkins points out, with Illinois featuring an extremely talented freshman class that includes reigning Big Ten Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, Vanessa DiBernardo – a player the Badgers have never faced before.
“She (DiBernardo) brings an aspect as a good one v. one player and a great finisher, and I think we have to have our focus,” Wilkins said.
Wilkins was quick to point out, however, that playing against a player as talented as DiBernardo will be nothing new for the Badgers or their defense, as the squad has already squared off against some of the nation’s best talent. One of those talents was UCLA forward Sydney Leroux – the USA’s most capped player and highest scorer at the U-20 level and a likely future international star.
“We’ve played the likes of Sydney Leroux, who is obviously one of the best players in the world at that age group,” Wilkins said. “So, hopefully some of the examples that we have with her, we can use for Vanessa.”
Still, Wilkins admitted the Badgers can never be too certain with a player like DiBernardo.
“But, I think she (DiBernardo) brings a different skill-set. I don’t know if you can prepare for a person like that,” Wilkins said.
In order for DiBernardo and the Fighting Illini to find their way toward goal though, they will first have to deal with Wisconsin’s staggering defense, led by goalkeeper Michele Dalton. Dalton, a senior, is currently at the center of the Badger’s remarkable, eight-game no-goals-allowed streak. She has racked up the awards as well, taking home her third Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week this week following her four-save efforts against both Iowa and Minnesota.
Despite the acclaim and awards coming in from every direction, Dalton is exceptionally even-keeled – keeping her focus on the true task at hand.
“Truthfully, I don’t pay attention to records and all that stuff,” Dalton said. “I focus one game at a time and I think defensively we’ve been really strong and it’s certainly not just my effort that’s put forth the shutouts. The defense has been there all the way along and we haven’t been able to win games unless the offense is scoring as well.”
With Dalton and the rest of her teammates quick to give credit to each other, it’s easy to see why the team has produced such great results lately. The camaraderie and closeness within the team has made it easy for the newcomers, including freshman Catie Sessions, to come in and make an impact.
Sessions, a defender whose role this past week in the Badger win vs. Iowa led to her being named a CollegeSoccer360.com Primetime Performer of the Week, instantly cited the rest of the defense and upperclassmen as the reason her transition to the college game has been so seamless.
“They’ve helped a lot,” Sessions said. “If it hadn’t been for all the upperclassmen being there to help me jump right into it – to be a defender – I don’t think I’d be playing as well as I have been lately. They’ve helped me a lot; understanding the tradition and the team.”
With the game this Sunday at noon being the annual “Pac the Mac” event at the McClimon Complex, UW students will likely turn out in droves to get their hands on a free t-shirt and for the opportunity to watch the talented women’s team from exclusive field level seating, free of cost. Still, Michele Dalton and the rest of her teammates will stay focused on the task at hand – the same task they have had in mind since defeating Iowa this past Sunday.
“Our focus right now, our primary focus is Illinois,” Dalton said. “And I think everybody’s excited moving forward.”