STARTING XI
1. COUNT ON TOM: In last weeks competition against Michigan, junior Tom Barlow netted a golden goal to give the Badgers their first conference win.
2. TRASK IS TOPS: Head Coach John Trask  is on the brink of his 100th career win and 50th career win at Madison. Trask clinched his 97th win of his career against Santa Clara in the Badger's season opener and the 98th win against Michigan on Sept. 9. 
3. MORE MUELLER: Chris Mueller leads the Badgers with 14 shots on the season, ranking third in the Big Ten and also rates fourth in the conference with 3.5 shots per game.
4. PLAY THAT GUITAR: True freshman Mitch Guitar has a goal and an assist on the season, totaling three points.
5. GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW: The Badgers have kept a consistent starting lineup, as nine players have started consistently in all four games. Tom Barlow, Sam Brotherton, Mike Catalano, Brian Hail, Elan Koenig, Noah Leibold, Enda O'Neill, Alex Masbruch and Philipp Schilling have started in all four contests.
6. TOMMY BOY: Junior Tom Barlow leads the Big Ten and ranks ninth in the country for game-winning goals.
7. SHUT IT DOWN: Junior Philipp Schilling ranks second in the Big Ten for shutouts and second for shutouts per game (0.25).
8. OH, WHAT A NIGHT: Wisconsin and Michigan battled it out for the second- and third-highest shooting amounts by any Big Ten teams in a single game. Michigan had a game-high 21 shots while Wisconsin fired off 20 shots. 
9. SAFE AND SOUND: UW's six saves against Michigan was the second-highest in a single game by any team in the Big Ten. Badger goalkeeper Phillip Schilling had a season-high six saves against Michigan, including an acrobatic save in overtime that denied the Wolverines victory.
10. DISH IT OUT: Wisconsin ranks third in the Big Ten conference and 80th in the country for assists per game (1.25).
11. TOP TIER: Wisconsin is second in the Big Ten standings as just one of three teams that are 1-0 in conference play.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

• NORTHWESTERN
  • Northwestern had a solid showing in their 2015 season, ending the year with a 7-9-2 overall record while finishing 3-4-0 in Big Ten conference play. 
  • Northwestern kicked off their 2016 campaign with a 2-1 home win against Florida Gulf Coast.
  • Northwestern's last time out also meant the start of Big Ten Conference play. The Wildcats squared off against the Buckeyes of Ohio State, suffering a 1-0 road loss. 

SERIES HISTORY

• Many the miles: The Badgers and the Wildcats have battled 43 times, harvesting a Wisconsin lead in the overall series 27-11-5. 
• In last years match-up, Wisconsin squeaked out a 2-1 victory over Northwestern in their final regular season match. 
• The last time the two teams met in Evanston was in 2014 when the Wildcats notched two goals to lead them to a 2-0 victory over the Badgers, despite being outshot by the Red and White 11-5.

LAST TIME OUT

• In a thrilling Big Ten conference opener at the McClimmon Soccer Complex, the Wisconsin men's soccer team took down the Michigan Wolverines 2-1 in a double overtime finish.
• Junior Mike Catalano crossed a well-placed ball, finding a breaking Tom Barlow in the 108th minute of play that ended the heated affair between the two Big Ten rivals. Barlow collected his 10th career goal and second of the season. Freshman Mitch Guitar was also credited with an assist on the goal.
• The Badgers came out of the gates hot, keeping possession well and notching the first goal of the competition in the 28th minute of play. The goal was scored by junior Mark Segbers, as he danced around the Michigan goalkeeper and netted his first goal of the season on a ball from fellow junior Christopher Mueller.
• The Badgers dominated the rest of the first half with immense pressure and ball control. It wasn't until early in the second that All-Big Ten star Francis Atuahene slipped behind the Badger back line and notched the game at 1-1.
• The Badgers won the shot battle 17-15 in regular time while Michigan won the battle in OT 6-3. Corner kicks were 9-7 in favor of favor of Michigan.
• Philipp Schilling got the start in net for the Badgers where he acrobatically denied a would-be golden goal that came in the 98th minute of the first overtime period. Schilling earned six saves on the day.