Wisconsin Set for Big Ten Play
September 22, 2006 | Women's Soccer
The Wisconsin women's soccer team (3-2-2, 0-0-0 Big Ten) plays host to No. 18 Illinois at 7 p.m. Friday in the 2006 Big Ten opener. The Badgers then welcome Iowa for a conference match at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The women's soccer program, celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, is just one win away from its 300th all-time victory.
'Both the 25th anniversary and 300 wins are big deals,' Allison Preiss, senior assistant captain, said. 'That is a lot for one program. It will be special for all of us to be participants in that game.'
Wisconsin is coming off its final non-conference weekend that included matchups against No. 18 Missouri and Kentucky. The Badgers dropped a 2-1 decision to the Tigers but rebounded to beat the Wildcats 1-0 two days later. In the game against Kentucky, Lynn Murray earned her first start in the net since the season opener, where she exited early because of injury. Senior Kara Kabellis also played well after sitting out the game with Missouri and scored the team's only goal of the game.
The 19th-ranked Fighting Illini, meanwhile, is 4-4 overall this year. Illinois was picked to finish second behind Penn State in the Big Ten preseason poll. The squad split its games last weekend, falling to Saint Louis 2-1 in overtime before defeating then-No. 12 Utah 4-1.
'Illinois is a really good team,' Preiss said. 'We are going to have to hustle, work hard and connect passes. We have to be a possession team and show the Big Ten we aren't just kicking around.'
Iowa was slated to finish 11th in the conference but so far have been playing well, earning a 4-3-1 record going into conference play. The Hawkeyes are under the direction of first-year head coach Ron Rainey, who came to Iowa City from Ball State. Rainey will be facing off against his brother-in-law Sunday in Wisconsin head coach Dean Duerst. Duerst 's wife, Nancy, has a sister, Margaret, who is married to Rainey.
'Ron has been a great friend,' Duerst said. '(The game) will be something fun to talk about over Christmas dinner. We are very competitive and are very respectful of each other. I will enjoy the experience.'
The Badgers are happy to be opening up the conference season at home. The game against Iowa will close out a four-game homestand for the Cardinal and White.
'To be able to have two home weekends in a row is helpful for a team,' Dean Duerst, Wisconsin head coach, said. 'You are comfortable at home. It 's your house and special place for your players."
