Badgers keep improving down the stretch
October 12, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Wisconsin travels east to battle Michigan State, Michigan on the road
From Varsity Magazine
After earning an exciting shutout against Iowa on Senior Day this past Sunday, Wisconsin's play continues to rise. The Badgers have won two and notched a tie in their last three games. The improved streak matches a run earlier this fall after Wisconsin defeated South Dakota State and Loyola Chicago, while tying No. 19 Ohio State.
The leadership of this year's senior class is keeping the Badgers steady and holding tough Big Ten opponents to less than 8.7 shots per game on average. UW has allowed only one goal and 10 total shots on goal in the last three games.
Despite a tough start to the season, the Badgers are climbing if the last few games are any indication. UW will use that momentum going forward during this weekend's road trip in Michigan. Wisconsin will face Michigan Thursday night in Ann Arbor, Mich., at 6 p.m. CT and then head to East Lansing, Mich., to take on Michigan State at noon on Sunday. In the conference standings, the Wolverines are third (5-2-0 Big Ten) while the Spartans are sitting in ninth with two Big Ten wins under their belt.
But some members of the current team have seen rough starts that later helped grow program success. In fact, only one current class has ever experienced a season where the team didn't win a Big Ten title, after claiming the regular-season title in 2015 and the Big Ten tournament trophy in 2014.
However, 2013 was a different season, especially for a group of freshmen who have now become a strong, resilient senior class. Seniors that have learned that the rough patches have usually led to growth and better things, but with some tough lessons along the way.
"I think our freshman year we came in and we had a rough fall," senior Micaela Powers said, "and that spring we came together as a collective unit and sat down and started talking in the classroom. We fixed a lot of issues we had going on off the field and ever since that reconstruction of the team, it's been on an up and up.
"We kind of started off this season in a rough patch, but I think as the season has gone on, we have learned how to play with each other and it has gotten a lot better."
Fellow senior Meghan Ledin agrees.
"I think we've really just become something that we can all be proud of," Ledin added, discussing the team's growth since that 2013 season.
The Badger leadership has taken these lessons learned over four seasons to help develop the younger players.
"I think our mentality has changed, we've come out working harder than we have in the beginning of the season," senior Rose Lavelle said. "I think the difference is the effort that we've been giving."
With only one last home match left (Rutgers, Oct. 26), the senior day victory this past Sunday marked a bittersweet moment of the fall. But the Badgers know that there are still plenty more opportunities to showcase what a talented and hardy squad they have.
Lavelle put it best: "I guess I'll just say thank you Wisconsin for the best four years of my life and we're not done yet."
After earning an exciting shutout against Iowa on Senior Day this past Sunday, Wisconsin's play continues to rise. The Badgers have won two and notched a tie in their last three games. The improved streak matches a run earlier this fall after Wisconsin defeated South Dakota State and Loyola Chicago, while tying No. 19 Ohio State.
The leadership of this year's senior class is keeping the Badgers steady and holding tough Big Ten opponents to less than 8.7 shots per game on average. UW has allowed only one goal and 10 total shots on goal in the last three games.
Despite a tough start to the season, the Badgers are climbing if the last few games are any indication. UW will use that momentum going forward during this weekend's road trip in Michigan. Wisconsin will face Michigan Thursday night in Ann Arbor, Mich., at 6 p.m. CT and then head to East Lansing, Mich., to take on Michigan State at noon on Sunday. In the conference standings, the Wolverines are third (5-2-0 Big Ten) while the Spartans are sitting in ninth with two Big Ten wins under their belt.
But some members of the current team have seen rough starts that later helped grow program success. In fact, only one current class has ever experienced a season where the team didn't win a Big Ten title, after claiming the regular-season title in 2015 and the Big Ten tournament trophy in 2014.
However, 2013 was a different season, especially for a group of freshmen who have now become a strong, resilient senior class. Seniors that have learned that the rough patches have usually led to growth and better things, but with some tough lessons along the way.
"I think our freshman year we came in and we had a rough fall," senior Micaela Powers said, "and that spring we came together as a collective unit and sat down and started talking in the classroom. We fixed a lot of issues we had going on off the field and ever since that reconstruction of the team, it's been on an up and up.
"We kind of started off this season in a rough patch, but I think as the season has gone on, we have learned how to play with each other and it has gotten a lot better."
Fellow senior Meghan Ledin agrees.
"I think we've really just become something that we can all be proud of," Ledin added, discussing the team's growth since that 2013 season.
The Badger leadership has taken these lessons learned over four seasons to help develop the younger players.
"I think our mentality has changed, we've come out working harder than we have in the beginning of the season," senior Rose Lavelle said. "I think the difference is the effort that we've been giving."
With only one last home match left (Rutgers, Oct. 26), the senior day victory this past Sunday marked a bittersweet moment of the fall. But the Badgers know that there are still plenty more opportunities to showcase what a talented and hardy squad they have.
Lavelle put it best: "I guess I'll just say thank you Wisconsin for the best four years of my life and we're not done yet."
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