Wisconsin opens Big Ten play vs. No. 17 Illinois
September 24, 2008 | Women's Soccer
This weekend, the Badgers will be at home in the McClimon Soccer complex to host No. 17 Illinois and Purdue in their first games of Big Ten conference play. The match against Illinois (6-3-0) will begin at 7 p.m. Sept. 26, and Wisconsin faces Purdue (6-3-1) at 1 p.m. Sept. 28. The Badger women lost to both Illinois and Purdue last season, but this year they have already compiled a 6-2-1 record and have yet to be defeated on home turf. This will be Wisconsin's first contest against a ranked opponent this season.
This week at a glance
Wisconsin (6-3-1) opens up Big Ten play
McClimon Soccer Complex; Madison, Wis.
Friday, Sept. 26 ' 7 p.m.
vs. #17 Illinois (6-3-0) | Live stats will be available
Sunday, Sept. 28 ' 1 p.m.
vs. Purdue (6-3-1) | Live stats will be available
Scouting the opponents
No. 17 Illinois (6-3-0)
The Fighting Illini have an average 13.2 shots per game and a total 13 goals on the season, and opponents have scored a combined eight goals against them. Illinois has out-shot their opponents 119-92 this season.
Illinois' match at Wisconsin is their first Big Ten conference game of the season. They are on a two-game winning streak following home victores against Colorado College and Washington, and both of the wins were shutouts.
Junior Chichi Nweke leads the Illini in scoring with 11 points ' four goals and three assists. Other potential key players will be seniors Marti Desjarlais, a native of Pewaukee, Wis., and Emily Zurrer, who each have two goals this season.
Purdue (6-3-1)
Purdue is 5-1-0 at home this season, but only 1-2-1 on the road going into Sunday 's match.
Junior Loredana Riverso and freshman Kellie Phillips are tied for the Boilermakers ' leading scorers with ten points each. Nine of the team's 19 goals on the season and 8 of the 15 assists were put up by freshmen.
The Boilermakers defeated Colorado College 2-1 in their last match, and they open up Big Ten play on the road against Northwestern Friday before making the trip up to Madison to face the Badgers.
UWBadgers.com
Your source for the latest, most comprehensive information on sportid=140"> --> Wisconsin women's soccer
Last week
Wisconsin 3, Pepperdine 1 (Sept. 19) | sportid=140&storyid=15032"> --> Recap
Wisconsin 4, Nevada 0 (Sept. 21) | sportid=140&storyid=15044"> --> Recap
he Badgers extended their home winning streak to four for the season with two victories last weekend. Wisconsin defeated Pepperdine 3-1 Friday night and shut out Nevada 4-0 Sunday afternoon at the McClimon Soccer Complex. Freshman Erin Jacobsen led the Badgers with two goals and an assist over the weekend, and freshmen Meghan Flannery and Laurie Nosbusch also scored for the Badgers on Sunday against Nevada. Four of the six Badger goals this weekend were scored by freshmen. Ten different Badger players combined on goals and assists to win against Pepperdine and Nevada .
Related Content: sportid=140&storyid=15078"> --> Krombach sisters , sportid=140&storyid=15079"> --> Wilkins addresses media
Head Coach: Paula Wilkins
Record at UW (years): 12-13-2 (second year)
Career record (years): 129-32-13
Alma mater: UMass, 1994
Assistants: Tim Rosenfeld, Patrick Farmer
Statistics
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Illinois
Purdue
Big Ten Conference
