Offense and defense click as Wisconsin knocks off Northern Illinois

Sunday, August 27

MADISON, WI.

1 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

3-1-0

Northern Illinois

1-1-1

Northern Illinois

Wisconsin

Photo by: Dave Gaustad

Offense and defense click as Wisconsin knocks off Northern Illinois

August 27, 2017 | Women's Soccer

Box Score NIU Box Score

Badgers get off 18 shots in 2-0 victory

MADISON, Wis. – The second half of Wisconsin women's soccer's two-game home stand brought more excitement for Wisconsin fans as the Badgers defeated the Huskies of Northern Illinois by a score of 2-0.

After holding Creighton to just four shots this past Thursday, the Badgers held the Huskies to one shot on Sunday while getting 18 shots off themselves.

Wisconsin fired 10 shots off in the first half, three on goal and three of them coming from sophomore forward Dani Rhodes.

Entering the second half at a scoreless draw, freshman forward Cameron Murtha received a corner from her counterpart freshman forward Lauren Rice and found the back of the net, breaking the tie.

It was Murtha's second goal of the season, two in two games, and the Badgers' 13th shot of the contest.

GOOOOOOALLLLLL!!!!

Corner in from Rice and Murtha scores her second goal of the season! #Badgers take the lead 1-0! pic.twitter.com/agjZulpDK6
— Wisconsin Soccer (@BadgerWSoccer) August 27, 2017

Thirteen minutes later junior midfielder Victoria Pickett got in the action, breaking past the last wall of defense and pumping a shot past the keeper for Wisconsin's second goal of the game and Pickett's first of the season, giving Wisconsin a 2-0 lead.

Northern Illinois took its first shot of the game in the 87th minute, which was corralled by Wisconsin keeper Caitlyn Clem.

Clem and the Wisconsin defense provided another shutout, allowing just one shot and two corners, compared to Wisconsin's 11 corner kicks.

U-Rah-Rah! #Badgers pic.twitter.com/aFinVfMvTq
— Wisconsin Soccer (@BadgerWSoccer) August 27, 2017

Straight from the pitch:
Head coach Paula Wilkins
"It's not just the defense, it's the pressure from the forwards, Lauren Rice, Dani (Rhodes) and Emily (Borgmann) do a good job of coming back and double teaming."

"Pressure from our midfielders, those guys changing and winning set 50/50 balls, I think Alexis Tye and Vic (Pickett) won all the balls in the midfield today… that doesn't show up on the shutout but that's a huge part of what's happening on the field."

Midfielder Victoria Pickett
"I think we're pretty ecstatic, we're all very happy with the wins and then hopefully we can keep going forward."

Three's the charm! Third win of the season and 3-0 at home!

Another W for the #Badgers! #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/jL6Tddv0dd
— Wisconsin Soccer (@BadgerWSoccer) August 27, 2017

Up next: The Badgers take to the road to begin a three-game road series starting with Virginia at 7 p.m. on Aug. 31. Following Virginia, Wisconsin heads to William & Mary on Sept. 3, then Drake on Sept. 7.