MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw against Nebraska at the McClimon Complex on Thursday night. Freshman Dani Rhodes was able to come up with the equalizer late in the second half to hand Nebraska their first draw of the season.
 
"I'm proud of the team to come back from being 1-0 down," head coach Paula Wilkins said. "Coming away from this game I think Nebraska is a really good team, well organized and has really dangerous players Caroline Flynn and Jaycie Johnson up front.
 
"I thought we did a pretty good job, we knew they were going to be good on set pieces and I thought we needed to be better with the details and I think that it's something we can learn from this game moving forward and that's going to be important. I like the battle the team brought today and the effort and every time we have that little better effort it's exciting so now we have to make it into results."
 
The Cornhuskers (9-4-1 overall, 3-2-1 Big Ten) were the first to get on the board after Nebraska's Haley Johnson was able to head one past junior goalkeeper Caitlyn Clem off of a corner kick in the 35th minute to take the lead 1-0.
 
Offensively, Nebraska dominated the beginning of the first half, earning five corner kicks within the first 35 minutes of play.
 
However, the Badgers (5-4-5 overall, 2-2-2 Big Ten) started to heat up towards the end of the first half, firing three shots in the final five minutes, including a shot by Rhodes that was just wide, to get their offensive attack in motion before heading into halftime.
 
After a back and forth battle in the second half, Rhodes was able to redeem herself from her missed shot in the first half by punching in the equalizer in the 84th minute.
 
"I definitely knew I had a good chance at it," Rhodes said. "The girls kept dropping back and I kept seeing space open up so as I got closer I knew I had to hit a shot. Actually the other day in practice I hit the same thing so I kind of had a good feeling."
 
Rhodes dribbled the ball up the field and knocked in the goal from inside the 18-yard box to make the game even at 1-1.
 
Wisconsin kept the momentum going into the final minutes of regulation with both junior forward Sydney McGinnis and senior midfielder Rose Lavelle recording shots, but none found the back of the net, forcing the game to head to overtime deadlocked at 1-1.
 
Both teams fought hard defensively in both of the overtime periods, with Nebraska only tallying three shots and Wisconsin recording one en route to the 1-1 draw.
 
"I think as defenders and especially as centerbacks this is our key game because we love to battle so much," senior defender Kylie Schwarz said. "I know I love when it gets wet and slippery and I'm sliding everywhere.
 
"I love that battle aspect of the Big Ten. They have great forwards and I know we have to bring the same thing for Iowa. We just gotta stay tight and just kind of work for each other and do what we do in practice every single day and just try to stay consistent and keep the ball out of the net."
 
Both Wisconsin and Nebraska were on an even playing field in terms of shots, with both teams recording five shots on goal while the Badgers had the slight advantage in shots, 11-10.
 
Nebraska, however, came out on top in corner kicks, racking up eight while UW recorded one.
 
McGinnis led the team in shots with three, while Lavelle and Rhodes each contributed two.
 
Both Clem and Nebraska goalkeeper Aubrei Corder were solid in the box, each collecting four saves on the night.
 
Wisconsin continues their home stand this weekend as they celebrate Senior Day against Iowa on Sunday, Oct. 9.
 
"There's a lot of the season left to play," Wilkins said. "I think it will be a nice tribute to them, they've done a lot for the program but I do think that the best way you can ever represent your seniors is by a win. I think that will be the focus. Again, we will go back and talk about the process and hopefully we get that right and the details right and the result will happen."
 
The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the McClimon Complex.