Wilkins analyzes team at weekly news conference
October 25, 2011 | Women's Soccer
Oct. 25, 2011
• Watch Wilkins Press Conference 
MADISON, Wis. -- Women's soccer head coach Paula Wilkins spoke to the media at Monday's weekly news conference. She talked about the importance of qualifying for the Big Ten tournament, the team's play recently, the improvement of the offense and more. A full transcript can be found below.
Paula Wilkins: I'm really happy with our results this weekend. I think it's the first time in a while that we've won both games on the weekend, especially in the Big Ten. That's a challenging thing. But to come off this weekend, it's important leading into the Iowa game, that we've gotten our offensive legs in the right direction. On Friday night, scoring five goals from five different people, and then getting two goals against Indiana, I think has really given our team some confidence moving on to the Iowa game and hopefully, well, into the Big Ten tournament.
I think one of the things that was important after the Illinois and Northwestern games was that we had to figure out how to get more people forward. The team really bought into what we were doing, and the weeks of training has made a huge difference. We've had great leadership from our seniors, especially in the Indiana game when Michele [Dalton] made a pivotal [penalty kick] save in a pivotal part of the game. I think that was something that you need from your seniors. Laurie Nosbusch has continued to lead us in that way up front, creating opportunities.
So I'm excited for Iowa, our last home stand. We're excited to get people out for it and continue to build on our winning ways.
QUESTION #1: To clinch a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, is that just sort of, again, another one of those steps that this program is taking to kind of get to where you'd like to be ultimately?
WILKINS: Yeah. This is the first year that the Big Ten Tournament has been back in three years. And for the last three years prior to this, we would have been in had there been one. So it was a little bit of accomplishment for them. I think every time we talk to these players, we talk about new achievements and reaching milestones, and this is just another little milestone. I know that, for them, for the last years being third in the Big Ten, they sort of just assumed it to happen, but I think all these little steps in getting in that environment I think will prepare them for more postseason play because you get that feeling of last game and your last game could be your last game. And that kind of feeling and that the end of your season or career coming is something that people rise to the challenge for.
QUESTION #2: With how tight the Big Ten standings are, to come away with six points and know you don't have to, you know, kind of sweat out this last weekend, how important is that for the team?
WILKINS: I think it's always important because, going into this game, you can play a little bit looser. However, one of the conversations we had is that now we're playing for seeding, and that's going to be important in the Big Ten Tournament to then go in there and win that and be competitive there. So, and we've talked about that this game is just as important. We can't take our foot off the game a little bit, and keep building on what we did, especially with the offensive output that we had. For a coach, it's a little bit of a breath of fresh air. I wouldn't want to be one of those teams, now I think there are five teams within a point of each other, I wouldn't want to be that. Hopefully we can be a little bit looser, be a little bit more aggressive with what we're trying to do for the Iowa game.
QUESTION #3: You always want to see your team playing their best ball towards this part of the year. Do you feel like your team is there, especially with a great weekend?
WILKINS: Yeah. I think that we fixed some of the problems that we had and addressed some of the issues, and the players have responded well to it. And I think you're right, this time of the year you want your team peaking. I think at this part of the year there's a couple things that you need to have. I think you need to have a hot goalkeeper, and I think that we have that with Michele right now. And then the ability to score and have people who can put the ball in the back of the net, and I think that really goes a long way this time of year. And to get that confidence these last two games has been quite important.
QUESTION #4: You mentioned after the Northwestern/Illinois weekend about moving the players forward. And with five goals on Friday night, was it just that or was it more to it to make the offense click?
WILKINS: We moved some people around in different positions, took a little risk getting people forward, but I think the biggest thing was just mentality. I think that shows a little bit of leadership of what we want. People got forward. They were more determined. And, in this program, where it is right now, I thought they were a little fragile because they were afraid to lose something. I think now they have the mentality that they're going to impose their will on the other team, and that's exciting to see because it was much more exciting soccer. Going in at 3-0 at halftime [against Purdue], I don't remember the last time that ever happened, or if it ever happened here at Wisconsin. So just getting them to believe and understand and how to do it was a pivotal point.
