Badgers set to take on No. 8 Rutgers on the road

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women’s soccer team will take on one of its toughest opponents at Yurcak field this upcoming Sunday, Oct. 16. at noon as it faces off against No. 8 Rutgers, a team that has been one of the best in the conference and the country.

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW: 

1. LAST TIME OUT: Penn State handed the Badgers their second loss in league play after a tough match on Thursday night. The Nittany Lions went up early in the game after just six minutes, and with the loss of senior Emma Jaskaniec, Wisconsin struggled to find its rhythm in the game. Penn State scored two more times, the last goal being sent in with three minutes to play.

2. BATTLE FOR BIG TEN: The 2022 conference season is wrapping up quickly and with a few more games to play the top of the standings within the Big Ten are set to be a fight for first. Wisconsin currently sits in third with just Michigan St. and Northwestern ahead of the Badgers as those two teams remain undefeated. However, as Wisconsin prepares to face one of the best teams in the conference at Rutgers, so do the rest of the five teams in the top half of the standings. This year is wide open for the Big Ten title and these last few matches could determine it all.

3. HISTORY WITH RUTGERS: Wisconsin and Rutgers have faced off eight times since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten. In those eight matches, Wisconsin has come out on top five of those times. With a 5-2-1 record, the Badgers hold the upper hand against this opponent.

4. MCCONNELL’S MINUTES: Sophomore Aidan McConnell has remained one of the most consistent players for the Badgers this season. Holding the defense down, McConnell has played all 90 minutes in 13-of-15 games this season for Wisconsin. The defender has been the one of the key pieces for this team in the past two years and is one of the biggest reasons the offense has excelled for Wisconsin. Her ability to read the game and move the ball has been a staple in the Badgers play along with her stellar composure on the back end of the field.  

5. COMING UP: After the final away game of the regular season, the Badgers will return home to close out league play. Awaiting in Madison,  Illinois will matchup with the Badgers on Thursday, Oct. 20. Three days later, Nebraska will make its way to McClimon for the last game of the regular season on Sunday, Oct. 23. 

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