Sept. 9, 2010
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin women’s soccer team has spent the week preparing to host a pair of games at the McClimon Complex this weekend after falling to No. 4 Portland, 2-0, and tying Washington, 1-1, in the Husky Invitational Sept. 3-5.
The Badgers will kick off this weekend with their first-ever meeting with South Dakota State on Friday at 7 p.m.
After winning the Summit League in 2009, the Jackrabbits enter Friday’s game with a 2-1-1 overall record, falling to Drake in their second game of the 2010 season.
With the programs meeting for just the first time, Wisconsin head coach Paula Wilkins knows that the Jackrabbits will bring an impressive skill set to McClimon on Friday night.
“One of the reasons why we added them is because of their success in the past,” Wilkins said. “I think that it is going to be a challenge for us. I think that every game this year is going to be a challenge for us.”
We are currently focusing on what we need to do to be successful, and that is what practice is for. We just need to improve our game.”
Wisconsin hopes to improve upon its 1-1 draw against Washington on Sunday, beginning with a win over the Jackrabbits on Friday night.
“Every game is going to be important for us in terms of reaching our goals for the season,” Wilkins said. “I think that they will bring something where they (South Dakota State) may be viewed as the under dogs and they may want to prove something. I think that’s a dangerous combination if we aren’t paying attention to what we are doing.
“I think they will be very quick, scrappy and physical and if we don’t match their intensity, some things may not go our way on Friday. It’s going to be a game that’s really going to show our guts and our salt as a program.”
Against the Huskies, Wisconsin freshman Kodee Williams notched the Badgers’ first goal of the season and her first collegiate points.
Wilkins hopes that the spark of Williams’ goal and Wisconsin’s ability to hold Washington to a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes of play will propel the team into this weekend’s play.
“I think getting that result against Washington really helped solidify some stuff. It has gotten our team excited to strive to be successful,” Wilkins explained. “I think that this team is about being together and being unified, and that’s what’s going to make them successful this season.”
