Wisconsin Badger women’s soccer faces several tough tests next season
With the European soccer season concluding today (MLS and NWSL are not on the FIFA calendar) with Real Madrid’s dominating performance in the Champion’s League Final (again) it’s never too early to look ahead to the next soccer seasons.
Wisconsin women’s soccer will have a number of quality opponents to contend with next season.
As a release from the UW Athletic Department notes the Badgers will play 11 total home games including two preseason matches in Madison.
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"Wisconsin will face six 2016 NCAA tournament teams, five teams that finished in the top 25 and five teams that won at least 70 percent of their conference schedule with six-plus wins. Eight of the teams on Wisconsin’s slate won at least 10 games last season."
The good news for UW is that it will return several key contributors from the 2016 squad.
"UW returns seven regular starters including goalkeeper and two-time All-Big Ten honoree Caitlyn Clem, 2015 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Victoria Pickett and members of the 2016 All-Big Ten freshman team, Dani Rhodes and Allie Winterfield."
The bad news is that Wisconsin has to replace NWSL #1 overall pick Rose Lavelle, one of the most accomplished players in program history.
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Wisconsin finished 9-5-8 last season with a 5-2-4 mark in conference play. The Badgers finished 5th in Big Ten play with 19 points but were only five points out of first place.
UW was just 1-2-5 in games that ended regulation honors even. Wisconsin’s only two loses after regulation came in the postseason. The Badgers lost in a penalty shootout to Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament. The season ended in double overtime in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to #9 Florida. The Badgers actually went ahead in the 76th minute only to concede an equalizer less than two minutes later.
The Badgers will need to be at their best to protect leads or find a match winner against a swarm of difficult opponents next season.