Chances were plentiful, but conversions were quite sparse.

Losing for the first time at home this season, the Wisconsin women’s soccer team (5-3-0) could do little but stare in disbelief at the scoreboard following Wednesday night’s game against Central Michigan (6-1-1).

After missing out on numerous opportunities to put away the Chippewas early in the first half, the Badgers fought back to tie the game at one in the second half, only to have the Central Michigan score in the 88th minute to down Wisconsin, 2-1.

With just over one minute to play, Central Michigan forward Chelsi Abbott found a way to get behind the Badgers’ defense and lob a shot over Wisconsin goalkeeper Michele Dalton. Abbott was immediately wrapped in hugs from her teammates, despite there still being time on the clock.

Ultimately, it mattered little, as the Badgers were unable to find a way to score in the time that remained.

“I am speechless right now,” UW head coach Paula Wilkins said after the game. “Our details haven’t been very good. For us to be successful, we need to be on all cylinders doing things right. Whether it’s clearing the ball up the field or defending properly or doing certain things. I just don’t know if we are doing that.”

While it was an unbelievable play at the end of the game that carried Central Michigan to victory, it was a defensive breakdown and mental error that really cost the Badgers.

A handball gave Central Michigan a direct shot in front of Wisconsin’s goal barely eight minutes into the contest, and the Chippewas capitalized on a great opportunity to jump on top early. Central Michigan defender Liesel Toth buried her shot in the right side of net, past the outstretched arms of a diving Dalton.

“We just weren’t playing together,” Dalton said.

The game almost got uglier for the Badgers about two minutes later when the Chippewas had a header go off the crossbar.

Wisconsin appeared ready to rally quickly, seeming to get shot after shot in the first half. The Badgers outshot the Chippewas 16-9 for the game and 11-5 in the first half, yet they couldn’t find the back of the net. A missed opportunity on a corner kick and a shot that went off Central Michigan goalkeeper Stefanie Turner’s glove, giving a defender time to help make the save, slowed the momentum Wisconsin seemed to be building.

“The keeper played a great game, and it just felt like no ball wanted to hit in that net today,” senior midfielder Leigh Williams said. “I think we will probably practice a lot of shooting this week and finishing our opportunities because we definitely had the opportunities. We just need to work more on the execution of them.”

The Badgers continued to dominate the amount of time spent in Central Michigan’s zone, and it finally appeared to pay off with a goal 11 minutes before halftime, but the referee ruled offsides and negated the goal.

The second half remained uneventful until Wisconsin senior forward Laurie Nosbusch found a way to maneuver herself and the ball to the net and score low past Turner. Sophomore Catie Sessions was credited with the assist on the play.

“I don’t think we played with enough urgency,” Nosbusch said. “It took getting scored on to wake us up and realize we need to go for this.”

Nosbusch’s teammates realized they needed to do more to help, as well.

“Everyone expects her to get her chances and make opportunities, but it is a team, so we have to be there to support her and get rebounds,” freshman forward Cara Walls said. “We needed to take them on and not be as passive. I think we did that sometimes, but not enough.”

Following the game, Wilkins called for a meeting on the field with all the seniors. Dalton shared some of the message that Wilkins tried to convey.

“We are the core leaders of the group, and moving forward, it is something we need to take responsibility for and just make sure everyone is organized and on the same page,” Dalton said. “Just take that leadership role and the responsibility on ourselves moving forward and just play better. Honestly … all we need to do is just play better.”

It will be pivotal for the Badgers to start focusing on their next opponent right away. Defending co-Big Ten Champion Penn State is visiting Madison on Saturday, but it may be difficult for Wisconsin to shake this loss off.

“It’s really disappointing to have fought that hard in a game and to finally be tied and just have this small lapse in focus right at the end of the game and lose,” Nosbusch said. “There is only a minute left, so you can’t really do much about it, so it makes you feel a little bit helpless and exasperated.”