Wisconsin routs Rutgers in Big Ten quarterfinal

Sunday, November 4

Madison, Wis.

Noon

Wisconsin Badgers

10-5-2

Rutgers

4-13-1

Wisconsin

Melick and Leibold celebrate after a goal

Photo by: David Stluka

Wisconsin routs Rutgers in Big Ten quarterfinal

November 04, 2018 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Rutgers Box Score

Badgers advance to semifinals behind six-goal performance

MADISON, Wis. – Thirteen minutes into its Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal match, the Wisconsin men's soccer team (10-5-2) faced a 2-0 deficit against Rutgers (4-13-1). Seventy-seven minutes later, the Badgers had emerged victorious behind a brilliant six-goal performance, winning 6-3 over the Scarlet Knights.

It was another dazzling outing for freshman Noah Melick. Just less than a month ago Melick scored his first collegiate goal against the Scarlet Knights, before adding another goal and an assist on the day. It was no different in Sunday's match. Melick tallied another two-goal, one-assist performance against the Rutgers, including the game-winning goal. He now has six goals and two assists in the last six games.

Four other Badgers got in the scoring action. Junior Noah Leibold tallied UW's first goal of the match, while sophomore Patrick Yim scored just before halftime to bring the Badgers within 3-2. Senior captain Isaac Schlenker evened the game at 3-3 less than five minutes into the second half. Following Melick's two goals, sophomore Alex Alfaro put the finishing touches on the match off an assist from Melick with less than eight minutes to play.

Wisconsin's six-goal performance is the most goals scored by the Badgers in a match since 2006, when they scored seven goals against Purdue Fort Wayne.

Straight from the pitch:
Head coach John Trask
"Obviously the weather played a huge part in this match. Compliments to Rutgers. They scored three goals with the wind at their backs. I thought we did a very good job fighting back in the match to make it 3-2 at halftime. That was a massive score.

"We got a couple set-piece goals I was proud of. Noah Melick comes through again. I was very pleased with our performance.

"Now we move on to Indianapolis, where we've had some success in the past. We'll take it from there."

Up next: Wisconsin, the defending Big Ten tournament champion, advances on to the semifinal match at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana against the third-seeded Michigan Wolverines on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The match will be televised by BTN. The Badgers defeated Michigan, 1-0, on Oct. 19 in Madison.