One of the most common beliefs in sports certainly applies to the 2011 Wisconsin women’s soccer team, as homefield advantage has been very kind to Paula Wilkins’ squad this year.
The friendly confines of the McClimon Soccer Complex have helped the Badgers to a nine-game unbeaten streak. Wisconsin has not lost a home match since Aug. 29, 2010, when it dropped a 1-0 decision to Cincinnati. Wisconsin (5-2-0) faces defending Mid-American Conference champion Central Michigan (5-2-1) Wednesday before kicking off the Big Ten portion of their schedule when they face Penn State (6-2-0) Saturday.
Thus far, the Badgers have been led by players both young and old. Senior forward Laurie Nosbusch leads the team in shots on goal with 16, while fifth-year senior goalkeeper Michele Dalton shined in Wisconsin’s 2-0 loss to reigning national champion Notre Dame in August, stopping 10 shots.
But arguably the biggest key to this point has been freshman Cara Walls, whose four goals lead the team. Walls is no stranger to success on the soccer field, as the Wauwatosa native helped lead her FC Milwaukee team to the national championship last year and garnered multiple awards as a prep star.
“She’s a unique player in terms of her ability just to impact the game,” Wilkins said. “She’ll fade in and out of games, but she’s one of those kids that you’ll lose track of her, and she’ll score on you.”
The combination of Nosbusch and Walls has been very successful for Wisconsin, as the pair has accounted for nearly half of the Badgers’ offense this season.
“[Cara] creates a lot of stuff from Laurie, and Laurie is attracting a lot of attention,” Wilkins said. “[Laurie] obviously is a person who is our returning leading scorer, so that’s opened up a lot of stuff to Cara. Bringing in [Nosbusch, Dalton and Walls] and combing them all together has been very fun.”
With junior forward Paige Adams due to return from injury soon, the Badgers have a potentially potent offense entering Big Ten play. Adams, who was sidelined last year due to injury, is making her return to the team after finishing second in both points and goals in 2009. The rapport between Adams and Nosbusch was especially strong that year, with all of Adams’ goals coming on a Nosbusch assist and vice versa.
“I think as this relationship [between Nosbusch and Walls] sort of grows, and we add Paige Adams to it, I think the attacking group is just going to get stronger and stronger,” Wilkins said.
Playing through pain
Wisconsin is unusually banged up this early in the season. Five of the normal starters are missing, while two players’ injuries are season-ending. Paige Adams and Ali Heller are expected back in time for Big Ten play, while sophomore Genevieve Richard has joined the Canadian U-20 team and will miss the season.
“I think losing some significant players, obviously, at that point, what we’ve done, I’m very pleased with,” Wilkins said. “I think our nonconference play has really prepared us for going into the conference. And, obviously, [Central Michigan] on Wednesday, a team that’s traditionally been in the NCAAs and wins their conference. I think every time you play teams that understand what the NCAAs are about, you learn something about yourself.”
Despite the injuries, Wisconsin has built confidence by sticking with both top-ranked Notre Dame and 14th-ranked Wisconsin-Milwaukee, losing 2-0 and 2-1, respectively.
“I think it’s going to prepare us then for dealing with the Big Ten,” Wilkins said of the nonconference slate. “Right now, the Big Ten teams are doing quite well in and out of conference right now and I am looking forward to that … You’ve got to stay healthy, as healthy as you can be. I think, for us, the unity of this team and their ability to fight together is going to be something that carries them through the Big Ten. That’s what they’ve had for the last two years.”
