WESTFIELD, Ind. – Beating a perennial powerhouse in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament wasn't enough for the Wisconsin men's soccer team. The Badgers took down No. 1-seed Michigan, 4-0, in the Big Ten semifinals at Grand Park to clinch their second-consecutive win over a top-25 RPI team and secure a spot in the tournament championship for the second year in a row.
The hero of the quarterfinal match against Maryland, senior
Mark Segbers, was none the lesser in the match on Friday afternoon. The All-Big Ten second team selection blew the lid off the Wolverine net with an unassisted goal in the 28
th minute of play.
The single goal and solid possession stood to show for Wisconsin at the end of the first half. But the best was still yet to come.
Wisconsin (10-4-4 overall) buried Michigan in the final 20 minutes of play, thanks in large part to the play exhibited by senior forwards
Tom Barlow and
Chris Mueller. Mueller was the first to strike off a golden ball from senior
Alex Masbruch that led Mueller right to Michigan's doorstep. The Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year didn't need much instruction after that, swiftly beating the defenders and keeper in one smooth motion. It was Mueller's ninth goal of the year.
Barlow completed the 1-2 punch with a goal of his own that proved to be the dagger. It wasn't without the help of Mueller, who pick-pocketed the Michigan goal kick and sent a roller to the feet of Barlow with a one-on-one opportunity to beat the keeper. Barlow gathered and deposited the ball into the back of the Wolverine net for his eighth score of the season. It was Mueller's 15th assist of the year.
And as if the Badger's 3-0 lead wasn't enough, freshman
Alex Alfaro found a way to get his name in the box with his first goal of the season that came with a single second left on the scoreboard.
The Wolverines outshot the Badgers 20-11, attesting to the outstanding play from senior captain
Philipp Schilling in the net. Highlighting his performance was an incredible save on a Michigan breakaway that kept the game in Wisconsin's favor. Schilling made seven saves on the way to his fifth shutout of the season.
Straight from the pitch
Head coach John Trask
"First of all congratulations to our guys. Michigan is a very good team – very well coached. We knew it was going to be a tough game. I think our guys stuck to the game plan. That was nice to get a goal in before halftime playing against the wind. The second half, we looked for opportunities. There was a moment there where they looked like they were going to score and then we turned it right back on them with Chris' goal. Also, great awareness from Tom and Chris on the second goal. It was absolutely fantastic for
Alex Alfaro to get his first goal of the season and collegiate career with one second left."
"That was great for Mark to be aware enough to squeeze that kind of ball in there off Chris and Tommy's initial attack. The work he put it on both sides of the ball today was exceptional."
"It's a Big Ten final. It's going to be an absolute battle. It's always tough to turn around so quickly but we'll get these guys rested up and ready for either team."
"Finally, to get a shutout against a team like Michigan and how good they are, is really a compliment to our backline and goalie Philip Schilling. It was a team effort and I was very proud of it."
Performance of the game: Senior
Chris Mueller did what he has been doing all season long: Give Wisconsin scoring chances. Mueller ran with those chances in Friday afternoon's contest, putting a goal and an assist on the board in the win.
Notes to know:
- The 4-0 win over Michigan ties the largest margin of victory in Big Ten tournament history.
- It is the Badgers' fifth time making the tournament championship since its start in 1991.
- Wisconsin has won a single Big Ten title (1995).
- It is the second time the Badgers have scored four goals in a game and second-most points in a game (10) this season.
- This is Wisconsin's third victory over a top-50 RPI team in the nation, including its second win over a top-15 team.
- UW has four losses to teams in currently in the top-25... all contests have been decided by a single goal.
- After scoring three goals all season, senior Mark Segbers now has two game-winning goals in the last two games.
- 34-of-38 Wisconsin goals have come from its upper class, adding context to freshman Alex Alfaro's late goal.
Up Next: Wisconsin will play in the Big Ten Championship game on Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT) against the winner of No. 2 Indiana and No. 6 Ohio State.
