Sweet revenge in South Bend

Sunday, November 19

South Bend, Ind.

5 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

12-4-5

Notre Dame

11-7-2

OT 1

Wisconsin

Notre Dame

November 19, 2017 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

UW triumphs 1-0 over Irish, continues onto sweet 16 for third time in school history

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – How sweet it is. Sweet 16, that is.

Wisconsin men's soccer's quest for a national championship title has been fueled in large part by the team's pursuit of revenge. The theme was repeated once again in Wisconsin's 1-0 win over No. 12-seeded Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday night. The last time the Badgers advanced to the NCAA tournament second round in 2013, they lost in South Bend 4-0, but the Badgers rewrote history tonight.

Senior Mike Catalano was the hero of the game scoring the decisive blow in the 95th minute of play to end the wild contest in Wisconsin's favor, 1-0.

The golden ball was served in on a platter by Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Chris Mueller, something he has done all too well this season. Mueller leads the nation in assists (18) and assists-per-game (.90), putting his passing repertoire on full display in the round-of-32 match. Catalano took care of the rest, guiding the ball neatly into the corner of the net, freezing the Fighting Irish keeper on the spot.

Catalano has now scored in both of Wisconsin's NCAA tournament games and holds eight goals on the season.

The match went the distance thanks to the efforts of the stifling Badger defense and senior goalkeeper Philip Schilling. Schilling racked up four saves and withstood Notre Dame's 18 shots.

Notes to know

It is Wisconsin's third time advancing to the Sweet 16 in school history
Senior Mike Catalano has scored in both Wisconsin's post-seasons bouts against UIC and Notre Dame

Straight from the pitch

Head coach John Trask
"It's exciting for the guys to be moving onto the round of 16. To have a performance like this on three days' rest against a very good Notre Dame team is phenomenal. They are very well coached. Coach Clark and the rest of their staff did a very nice job. But the bottom line is that the Badgers were the better team and put the ball in the back of the net. Tough conditions on the field (and) I think we adjusted extremely well. That is tournament soccer. I compliment our guys for making adjustments according to how we wanted to play and come out with the result tonight."

"They've bought into understanding that there are different ways to win in soccer. When a team is able to do that and be tactically aware enough to do that and still play their soccer, it just gives you so many opportunities in a game like this. I felt like we had to adjust at halftime and the guys bought into it. We went a little more direct and ultimately I believe that was probably the difference in the game."