Summer in SD with the Badgers
June 10, 2009 | Women's Soccer
With school out and summer finally here many of the UW student-athletes are enjoying some much deserved time off. For the Wisconsin women's soccer team, they are making it a group effort. While athid=6124&deptid=140"> --> Krista Liskevych and athid=6625&deptid=140"> --> Taryn Francel travelled home for the summer, athid=6034&deptid=140"> --> Whitney Owusu and athid=6623&deptid=140"> --> Michele Dalton simply just couldn't pass up a summer in California. The four Badgers aren 't just vacationing; they are currently residing in San Diego, Calif. to play for the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) team, San Diego United .
Although they have found time to relax, hang out with friends and enjoy staying on the coast they are also keeping in shape and preparing for the sportid=140"> --> 2009 UW soccer season .
Francel, Liskevych and Dalton have been in California since May, in preparation for the first game which was on May 23. Owusu was a late arrival joining the team just last week. In her first starting roll, Owusu played a winning defense with a blocked goal. For her efforts, she was named MVP for the weekend, and added to the Badger influence down in San Diego. In the same game against Ajax, an LA based team; Dalton was a rock in the net to keep the score a 0-0 tie.
'Michele is playing awesome,' Francel said. 'She is coming up with huge saves. We tied Ajax, a really good team, 0-0; Michele kept us in that game. It was a really tough game.'
In her second year with the new program, Francel has seen the team through much improvement this year. Sitting atop the Pacific South standings, SD United has gone unbeaten in its first five games currently 4-1.
'Everyone is doing really well,' said Francel. 'Whitney and I are playing outside defenders, which is different from UW, where we both play at center. Krista is doing really well in the midfield, she is playing next to a girl who plays in Barcelona and she is playing well next to her.'
Although the four Badgers are spread across San Diego, ranging from 30 miutes to an hour away, they have all found time to hang out, whether it's going to the beach or meeting friends. While Owusu and Dalton are staying with host families, Liskevych and Francel are enjoying their time home.
It's a family affair for Francel whose little sister Tayler is also palying on SD United. They are enjoying being teammates for now, because soon they will become Big Ten rivals. Tayler will enroll at Purdue this fall also as an outside defender.
Francel has no complaints, she is home playing soccer and brought a little bit of Wisconsin with her. She continues to take advantage of the summer by hanging out with friends, going to the beach and having her whole family come out and support her while she is still in her hometown.
