Nov. 2, 2009
Box Score | Box Score 
MADISON, Wis. – Erin Jacobsen waited until the last minute, but her late goal sealed a 2-1 victory for the Wisconsin women’s soccer team Monday as the Badgers topped Northwestern at Lakeside Field to clinch third place in the Big Ten Conference.
The win, which helped Wisconsin avoid going to overtime for the ninth time, allowed the Badgers to conclude their regular season on a seven-game unbeaten streak, thanks to Jacobsen’s 89th-minute score.
After battling for 66 scoreless minutes, Jacobsen turned and connected on a right-footed shot from 30 yards out to improve the Badgers’ record to 9-5-5 (5-1-4 Big Ten). The Wildcats dropped to 6-10-2 (3-5-1 Big Ten).
“I thought Northwestern did a great job,” said head coach Paula Wilkins. “The game could have gone either way; Northwestern played us hard all over the field. Our players keep finding ways to win games. This young group keeps figuring it out and I continue to be impressed with what they can do.”
Paige Adams tallied her third goal of the season to put the Badgers on the board first. In the 14th minute, Laurie Nosbusch played the ball into the right side of the box and Adams beat Northwestern keeper Carolyn Edwards to the lower left to give the Badgers the 1-0 lead.
Northwestern responded less than 10 minutes later on a goal by Alicia Herczeg in the 23rd minute of play. Caroline Dagley fed the ball to Herczeg, who put it past a diving Michele Dalton in the UW goal.
The first half played out evenly. Northwestern had five shots to Wisconsin’s four, with each keeper picking up one save. After going the first half without a corner kick, the Badgers had five corners in the second half.
Dalton finished the outing with three saves and Edwards finished with two.
The physical match saw 21 fouls called, along with four yellow cards. The Badgers finished with nine shots to the Wildcats’ eight.
The Badgers’ third-place finish in the Big Ten marks the program’s best finish since the 2000 season, when UW took second place in conference.
The Badgers will now play the waiting game until Monday, Nov. 9, when selections for the NCAA tournament are announced live on ESPNews, starting at 7 p.m.
Badger Notes
The Badgers improved to 4-2-1 on the road this season … UW concluded the regular season on a seven-game unbeaten streak (4-0-3) … Erin Jacobsen notched her second game-winning goal this season … Paige Adams has scored a goal in three of the last four games … A year ago, the Wildcats spoiled the Badgers home finale with a goal in the 80th minute to end the Badgers season with a 1-0 loss.
Jacqueline Boscacci
Wisconsin Athletic Communications
