1
UIC UIC (11-6-3, 6-2-1)
4
Winner Wisconsin WIS (11-4-5, 4-3-1)
UIC UIC
(11-6-3, 6-2-1)
1
Final
4
Wisconsin WIS
(11-4-5, 4-3-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UIC UIC 1 0 1
Wisconsin WIS 1 3 4

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

There is nothing we do better than revenge

Wisconsin routs UIC, 4-1, in the first round of the NCAA tournament

MADISON, Wis. – There was no stopping Wisconsin men's soccer in front of its home crowd on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA tournament against the University of Illinois-Chicago. The Badgers couldn't stop depositing goals into the Flames' net, en route to a dominant 4-1 victory at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
 
It was none other than senior Tommy Barlow who calmly evened the game at 1-1, after the Badgers (11-4-5 overall) came out of the gate slow. Barlow was awarded a penalty kick after fellow senior Chris Mueller was knocked down inside the box on the Badger attack. Barlow calmly sent the ball into the corner of the net for his ninth goal of the season.
 
Senior Mike Catalano blasted the game-winning goal home for the Badgers with a move that left the UIC defender wobbly. Catalano collected the ball on the 18-yard mark off a pass from Mueller and swiftly beat the defender and goalkeeper with ease.It was his seventh goal of the season and Mueller's 17th assist on the year.
 
But Barlow wasn't finished scoring yet. The senior put the icing on the cake with his second goal of the game and 10th goal of the season in the 86th minute of play to extend the Badgers' lead. Sophomore Mitch Guitar was credited with the assist, his first of the season.
 
That wasn't the only first for Guitar. The sophomore put his own stamp on the match with his first goal of the season that came at a perfect time in his young career. Off a beautiful ball from senior Mark Segbers, Guitar finished the ball to the far corner and gave the Badgers some breathing room in the late comings.
 
Notes to know
  • Wisconsin's continuation in the NCAA tournament marks the fifth time in school history that the Badgers have advanced to the round of 32
  • Chris Mueller's 17 assists ranks No. 1  in the country and the Big Ten, also holding the top spot in assists-per-game (.89)
  • The win marks the first time this senior class has won an NCAA tournament game
 
   
Straight from the pitch
Head coach John Trask
"UIC, conference champs, very well coached and very difficult team to play against. Very, very technical, much different than a Big Ten team. Caused us a lot of problems for a long period in the game. Luckily, we were going to our favorite side of the field and pulled off some plays in the second half and scored some goals. The key is surviving and moving on.
 
"We had a big crowd for a tough night, a cold night. Great event here at McClimon, thanks to all the fans and supporters of the men's soccer team. I know a lot of people didn't want it to be the last time they ever saw this team play, these seniors. Just a great night overall."
 
"We're going to turn our focus to Notre Dame. We've got three days to get ready for that which is always very difficult, that round of 32 game when you've played the round of 48. At the end of the day, they're an extremely good team, an ACC team, a seeded team, No. 10 in the country, and it's going to be a great game, I've got a lot of respect for that program as well."
 
Up Next: Wisconsin continues onto the round of 32 and will face the No. 12-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend, Indiana on Sunday afternoon.
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