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Women's
soccer releases 2011 schedule
Ten
of Badgers' 19 opponents in 2011 reached NCAA tournament last season
MADISON, Wis. - As the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team
looks to reach the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row, its
2011 schedule, released by head coach Paula Wilkins on Thursday,
features a level of competition that will serve the Badgers' well.
Non-conference highlights include a matchup at defending national
champion Notre Dame as well as a home contest against a Washington
squad that reached the quarterfinals.
In all, 10 of the Badgers' 19 opponents on the schedule are coming off
appearances in the NCAA tournament.
"Last year we had great tests early on," Wilkins said. "When setting
the schedule you try to find quality opponents, and with the
experienced team we have coming back, I think the non-conference
schedule we have will prepare us for the Big Ten season."
The season starts with an exhibition contest on Saturday, Aug. 13, as
UW welcomes Marquette to the McClimon Soccer Complex. The two teams met
last season in the second round of the NCAA tournament, where the
Golden Eagles defeated the Badgers on penalty kicks, 5-4, after the
game was tied at 2-2 following 110 minutes of play.
The Badgers open the 2011 season by visiting defending national
champion Notre Dame on Friday, Aug. 19. With the trip to South Bend,
Ind., Wisconsin will be looking for its first win against a defending
national champion. It will be the eighth time in its history that
Wisconsin battles a team coming off an NCAA title win, but the first
since 1997.
The home opener is scheduled for Aug. 26 as Wisconsin faces another
tournament team in Washington, which reached the quarterfinals.
In-state foe Green Bay visits on Sunday to close out the weekend.
A four-game road trip takes place over the next two weekends, beginning
with a visit to the state of Ohio. NCAA second-round participant Dayton
plays host to UW on Friday, Sept. 2, before Cincinnati welcomes the
Badgers on Sunday.
The following weekend UW travels to DeKalb, Ill., to face off against
Northern Illinois on Friday night. Two days later, on Sept. 11, the
Badgers visit Milwaukee in a rematch of last season's NCAA tournament
opener where the Badgers downed the Panthers, 2-1.
Wisconsin returns home to close out its non-conference schedule on
Wednesday, Sept. 14 when Central Michigan comes to town. The Chippewas
were bounced in the first round of the NCAA tournament by Marquette a
year ago.
Big Ten play begins on Saturday, Sept. 17, when Penn State visits
McClimon. The Badgers then take to the road the following weekend with
a game at Michigan State on Sept. 23 and at Michigan on Sept. 25.
A tough two-game stretch welcomes the Badgers back home when Minnesota
and Ohio State trek to Madison. The Gophers, who reached the Sweet 16
last season, take on the Badgers on Thursday, Sept. 29, in a renewal of
the Border Battle. The national runner-up, Ohio State, then tests UW on
Sunday, Oct. 2 in the team's annual Pac the Mac event.
A three-game road trip begins with a visit to the newest member of the
Big Ten, Nebraska, on Friday, Oct. 7. The next weekend, Wisconsin heads
south to do battle with Northwestern on Oct. 14 and Illinois on Oct. 16.
Wisconsin then closes out the regular season with a three-game
homestand beginning on Friday, Oct. 21 against Purdue. Indiana follows
on Sunday, while a contest against Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 29, finishes
off the regular season.
After a two-year hiatus, the Big Ten Tournament returns to the docket
as Northwestern plays host, Nov. 2-6.
The 2011 NCAA Tournament begins first round play on Nov. 11 with the
College Cup set for Dec. 2 and 4.
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