PISCATAWAY, NJ. – The seventh-seeded Wisconsin men's soccer team took second-seed Rutgers to the limit on the road Friday in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Big Ten Tournament, but were eliminated with a 5-4 defeat in penalty kicks after 110 minutes of scoreless soccer. 

Straight from the Pitch – Head Coach Neil Jones
"First off, congratulations to Rutgers, and we wish them luck in the semifinal, and hopefully the NCAA tournament. Tonight was a cagey match between two quality teams. Rutgers had some of their best chances early, but I felt after that we really grew in to the game and create some good opportunities of our own.

I am immensely proud of this team, and especially the seniors. While we are all absolutely gutted that this season is over, we know that a great foundation for the future of Wisconsin men's soccer has been laid by this team.Thank you to our staff and student-athletes for this season. I am so fortunate to lead this program."

How it happened
No one was expecting the No. 7-seeded Wisconsin men's soccer (6-6-4) team to go into Yurcak Field in Piscataway, New Jersey, and give No. 2-seeded Rutgers (8-4-6) one of their toughest challenges of the season. This team has never let the underdog label get to them and this game was no different.

It was a back and forth throughout the entirety of the first half, with Rutgers having the first five shots to start the game. However, the Badgers ended the half with a strong display, having the last four shots of the half. Both teams went at each other for the entire 90 minutes of regular time, but it remained scoreless. Because the new NCAA soccer rules and it being a post-season game, the Badgers proceeded to their first overtime of the year. Each overtime period lasted 10 minutes but once again neither side were able to put themselves ahead.

It continued to penalty kicks. Junior Carter Abbott manned the posts for Wisconsin, while freshman Ciaran Dalton was in net for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers scored on all five of its shots while the Badgers succeeded four times.  

Notes

• Seven Badgers played the entire 110 minutes: Inaki Iribarren, Matt Chandler, Aron Eli Saevarsson, Maxwell Keenan, Drew Brown, Ryan Keefe and Eliot Popkewitz.
• The Badgers managed to hold Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year MD Myers without a point for the seventh time this season.
• UW finished its first season under head coach Neil Jones with a 6-6-4 record.
• Earlier in the day, junior forward Maxwell Keenan and junior midfielder Tim Bielic were named second-team All-Big Ten, while Bielic earned Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honors for the third time in his career.