EVANSTON, Ill. – After clinching a share of the Big Ten regular-season title on Thursday, the No. 10 Wisconsin women's soccer team came into Sunday's contest with Northwestern wanting to win the crown outright.
The Badgers seized their historic opportunity in Evanston, shutting down the Wildcats, 3-1, to win the program's first outright regular-season crown.
Dani Rhodes scored the first goal of the game in the 15th minute for the Badgers (13-2-2, 9-0-1), charging past the Northwestern (5-10,3, 3-6-2) keeper and sliding the ball into the open net. The Wildcats tied up the game in the 22nd minute, but that did not stop the Badgers from giving their all.
In the last minute of the first half, junior
Claire Shea stepped up in a big moment for UW, scoring her first collegiate goal that served as the game-winning in UW's title-clinching triumph. She rocketed a shot past the Northwestern keeper from the middle third of the field.
The Badgers were not done yet. In the 74th minute, freshman
Jenna Kiraly scored her second collegiate goal, extending the Badger advantage 3-1. Kiraly tipped the ball into the back of the net off of a free kick taken by
Lauren Rice.
Notes to Know
- The Badgers earned their third conference championship and second outright crown, having last won the title on their own in 1994 (the tournament winner was named Big Ten Champion from 1994-96) before securing a share of the 2015 championship.
- Rhodes' goal was her 10th of the season and the 35th of her career.
- The Badgers outshot the Wildcats 13-11. Jordyn Bloomer logged four saves.
- It marked UW's first win against the Wildcats since the 2014 season.
Straight from the Pitch
Senior captain Payton Wesley
"There's no better feeling than sharing a moment like that with the people you go through everything with. Our preparation and mentality has gotten us to this point and we're far from being done. I'm so proud of every person on this team and I'm lucky to be a part of a program like this!"
Up Next: The Badgers return to McClimon Soccer Complex on Wednesday, where they will finish out the regular season against Ohio State at 3 p.m. Wednesday's matchup will be free admission. The top seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament, UW will host a Big Ten quarterfinal game on Sunday at McClimon and kickoff for that contest will be announced later this week.
