Badgers vs. Minnesota
Leonard Cederholm
2
Winner Wisconsin WIS (7-4-3,4-1-1)
0
IOWA IOWA (6-6-1,0-5-1)
Winner
Wisconsin WIS
(7-4-3,4-1-1)
2
Final
0
IOWA IOWA
(6-6-1,0-5-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wisconsin WIS 1 1 2
IOWA IOWA 0 0 0

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Defense continues stingy streak, leads Badgers in shutout at Iowa

Wisconsin posts fifth-straight shutout in Iowa City on Thursday night

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Extending what has been a stingy streak of shutouts, the Wisconsin women's soccer team blanked Iowa and earned a 2-0 win on the road in Iowa City on Thursday night.

With the Badger backline locking down and conceding hardly any looks, sophomore goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem wasn't even called on to make a save in the game and the Hawkeyes were held to just four shots and not a single shot on goal.

Wisconsin on the other hand registered 19 shots, which included Marisa Kresge's first goal of the season and a Kinley McNicoll goal via a penalty kick that put the game out of reach.

The Badgers (7-4-3, 4-1-1 Big Ten) won their first game in Iowa City since 2009 and are now unbeaten in their last four games against the Hawkeyes (6-6-1, 0-5-1).

"I thought we did a decent job in the first half, but I was happy with how we were better in the second half," UW head coach Paula Wilkins said. "We did much better with our game plan in the second half. I'm really happy with the full team defensive effort tonight."

Winners of four straight, the Badgers finished off their fifth-straight shutout and have not allowed a goal over their last 479 minutes, 22 seconds of play.

"It's not just coming from the backline and Caitlyn Clem right now, it's a total team effort," Wilkins said of UW's defensive play. "The midfield is doing a good job of pressuring the ball and getting back defensively when we lose it. They're winning balls in different areas. It's a team effort right now."

Kresge quickly got her team on the board, as the senior forward scored her first goal of the season and the seventh of her career in the 18th minute. Freshman midfielder Victoria Pickett was credited with the assist, which marked her third assist and fifth point of the year.

Wisconsin outshot Iowa 7-2 in the first half, but things got even more lopsided in the second half, which ended in a 12-2 advantage for the Badgers.

After a handball was called against the Hawkeyes in the box, McNicoll stepped up to take the penalty kick for Wisconsin and converted to push the lead to 2-0 in the 61st minute. It marked the second-straight game in which McNicoll converted a penalty kick after she also capitalized on one last Friday to help UW secure a 1-0 upset of then-No. 11 Minnesota.

Despite a slow start to her season, McNicoll is now on a four game point streak. The senior midfielder has scored a goal in three of the last four games for Wisconsin.

The Badgers remain on the road and travel to face Nebraska on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
 
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