The Wisconsin women’s soccer team bested Loyola-Chicago University on Monday, winning 2-0. This victory makes this Wisconsin’s second win in as many games — the Badgers ended non-conference play with a record of 3-2-3 overall.

Now the team’s stellar defense will go up against high-scoring, No. 19 Ohio State University (6-2-0 overall) Friday night in a rematch of last season’s Big Ten Tournament to open conference play.

Women’s soccer: Badgers gaining momentum after consecutive shutout victories

Ohio State started the season with a five game winning streak, but has lost two of their last three since. Their only two loses though, came against West Virginia University and Brigham Young University, ranked No. 4  and No. 7 at the time, respectively. The Buckeyes were outscored 5-1 over the two games.

The Badgers will have no easy task limiting Ohio State’s offense, which has failed to score two or more goals in a game only twice this season. Wisconsin will look to their defense, led by goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem, to keep the game close.

In eight games, Clem has played 800 minutes while recording 30 saves and four shutouts, along with a save percentage of .857. She’s allowed only five goals, but the last time Clem faced the Buckeyes she surrendered two during that 2-1 loss in last season’s Big Ten Tournament opener.

The Badgers defense, which allows an average of less than one goal a game, might have trouble containing Ohio State’s Lindsay Agnew. In eight games, Agnew has tallied four goals, which leads the team. Behind her are three different Buckeyes with two goals each: Nichelle Prince, Morgan Wolcott and Nya Cason.

Women’s soccer: Redemption on team’s mind after heartbreak of 2015

But defense aside, Wisconsin has struggled to score thus far, and has notched only seven goals despite ranking 30th in shots per game in the NCAA with 18.13. But that number drops heavily when looking only at the Badgers’ shots on goal, which averages 6.75, or 118th best in the NCAA.

Quality chances have been limited for the Badgers’ and play a large role in why the team has been held back offensively. The Badgers’ only multi-goal game came in their most recent victory, during which they scored twice.

Ohio State’s goalkeeper Jillian McVicker, however, has allowed ten goals this season, three in their most recent game against BYU, which is a good sign for the Badgers offense.

The game starts at 7 p.m. at the McClimon Track/Soccer Complex.