Riding a nine-game unbeaten streak and a conference tournament title to show for it, the No. 9 Wisconsin women’s soccer team (18-2-2, 10-2-2 Big Ten) earned an automatic bid into the 64-team NCAA tournament as a No. 4 seed.
In their opening round game Saturday, the Badgers will take on DePaul (16-0-4, 7-0-2 Big East) at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
Similar to Wisconsin’s storybook season up to date, DePaul is also in the midst of arguably their best season in program history, as they snagged their first Big East Tournament Title last Sunday with a convincing 2-0 win over Georgetown. Despite some close calls, including a penalty kick shoot-out victory over Marquette in the second round of the conference tournament, the Blue Demons have yet to lose a game this season.
Wisconsin head coach Paula Wilkins said it’s been years since the Badgers played against DePaul, so the team will need to start preparing immediately as they aren’t a familiar foe. In addition, Wilkins said she predicted her team would be a 3-seed in the tournament and didn’t expect the matchup they were ultimately given. DePaul enters the NCAA tournament at the No. 13 team in the country, just four spots behind Wisconsin.
“We were surprised by the seeding because they were one of the undefeated teams in the country and they just won the Big East and we just won the Big Ten,” Wilkins said. “So to have such close two teams playing each other is a little interesting, but we’re excited for the challenge.”
Wilkins added that she and her players felt a bit duped by the NCAA Selection Committee for two straight years now, as last year Ohio State received a bid after finishing ninth in the Big Ten, while the Badgers were sent packing after finishing fifth.
Regardless, Wilkins said this year’s team has a new-found mentality and focus, which has been evident in their off-season training effort as well as their ability to close out close games and hold themselves accountable for mistakes. Wilkins said the turn around she’s witnessed is unprecedented in her coaching career, including her previous stint at Penn State.
“Penn State had a lot of talent, so it was more about managing them, but this group actually changed,” Wilkins said. “And I think that was the most inspiring thing for me as a coach.”
As redshirt senior goalkeeper Genevieve Richard prepares herself for her final stretch as a Badger, the Big Ten’s Goalkeeper of the Year and defensive MVP of the Big Ten tournament said, the key to the rest of the team’s success will be continuing the same preparation routines which have been so effective all season.
As for the Badgers’ seeding in the tournament, Richard said the decision doesn’t bother her that much and that recognition is earned through a winning tradition.
“I know that it’s all about consistency and you earn respect through time and not from just winning a Big Ten Tournament now, but I think the program is moving in the right direction,” Richard said. “For today, that’s fine. If we win three times in a row and we’re still in the same position, now there’s an issue, but I think we still have something to prove and we’re on a good track.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s matchup, UW senior forward Kodee Williams said a key factor for the Badgers’ attack against DePaul will be finding a way to capitalize on more of their attempts on goal. Despite racking up 24 shots, with eight of them on target against Iowa last Sunday, it took until the 104th minute for something to finally find the net.
“That is definitely going to be one of our focuses this week,” Williams said. “We’ve out-shot our opponents like crazy and Cara [Walls] and I take a lot of responsibility for not finishing and that’s definitely something that we’re focused on. For us to allow zero shots on goal in one game and one shot on goal in the other, is just outstanding and I can’t give enough credit to our back six. That’s going to be key for us in the NCAA’s.”
With all the experience playing a huge role all season for Wisconsin, Williams said the “wow” factor of making the final tournament isn’t really there and it’s more about the team being focused on what they know is needed to win and just taking it one game at a time.
“We’re ready for anything and I think if we can keep up the way we’ve been playing, and maybe be a little more clinical in the final third, we’ve got a good shot at making it pretty far,” Williams said.
Wisconsin and DePaul will kickoff the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the McClimon Center. The winner will advance to the second round of the NCAA’s to take on either UCF for Georgia.
