University of Wisconsin Athletic Communications
UNIVERSITY PARK, Penn. – The Wisconsin men’s soccer team left Happy Valley unhappy after losing a heartbreaker in double overtime to Penn State, who handed the Badgers their first conference loss of the season on Friday night and snapped what was a two-match win streak for UW.
Wisconsin (3-2-1, 2-1-0 Big Ten) battled through all four periods, but it was Penn State (4-3-1, 2-1-0) who came out on top behind a double overtime penalty kick from sophomore Austin Maloney.
Penn State started the second half scoring off of a Wisconsin own goal. In the 54th minute, Penn State’s Pierre Reedy curved a ball into the box where Sam Brotherton attempted to make a diving clear, but instead ended in a Nittany Lion score allowing them to take a 1-0 lead.
“We had to fight our way back into it down a goal and it was unfortunate to give up an own goal,” UW head coach John Trask said. “Compliment to Penn State and their players. It was a typical Big Ten game. All of our Big Ten games have gone into overtime and the margins are very slim. Playing away from home is never easy in the Big ten and it would’ve been great to get out of there with a point, but they made a play and we didn’t.
“We’ll learn and our focus now turns to St. Louis. But, this is the Big Ten, that’s what makes it a good conference. They have some excellent players, they played very hard and we played very hard, but it’s difficult to win in the Big Ten when you allow two goals.”
Junior Christopher Mueller made the difference for the Badgers in the game, as he slashed the net in the 77th minute to equalize the score and force overtime. Nikola Atlija sent the ball high to Mueller who trickled it into the bottom right corner from 12 yards out. It was Mueller’s second goal of the season and Atlija’s first assist of the year.
With the clock winding down in the first half, Christopher Mueller had a free-kick opportunity from just outside the box, but it sailed over the net.
Despite a few breaks by both teams, the first half brought a scoreless game.
Wisconsin led corner kicks, 9-3, while the two teams tied the shot battle, 15-15. Penn State’s four points and two goals are the most given up by the Badgers by an opponent this season. It was also the most corner kicks by Wisconsin in a single match this season.
Mueller led the Badgers with seven shots, which tied his season high. Catalano and Barlow each logged three shots on the night.
Junior goalie Philip Schilling notched five saves on the day, the second-highest total for him this season. He also had a game-high two shots on goal. Arguably his best save of the game came in the first half as Penn State had their best look at the goal early in the game in ninth minute where Schilling easily stopped the hard shot.
“As I told the guys, the focus now turns to St. Louis for us. We have a home Big Ten game next weekend and that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” Trask said. “I know the guys are bummed out about tonight's loss, but I think they realize they put forth a good effort and we’ll learn and move on.”
The Badgers are back in action when they return home to play the Saint Louis Bilikens on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the McClimon Complex in Madison.
Wisconsin (3-2-1, 2-1-0 Big Ten) battled through all four periods, but it was Penn State (4-3-1, 2-1-0) who came out on top behind a double overtime penalty kick from sophomore Austin Maloney.
Penn State started the second half scoring off of a Wisconsin own goal. In the 54th minute, Penn State’s Pierre Reedy curved a ball into the box where Sam Brotherton attempted to make a diving clear, but instead ended in a Nittany Lion score allowing them to take a 1-0 lead.
“We had to fight our way back into it down a goal and it was unfortunate to give up an own goal,” UW head coach John Trask said. “Compliment to Penn State and their players. It was a typical Big Ten game. All of our Big Ten games have gone into overtime and the margins are very slim. Playing away from home is never easy in the Big ten and it would’ve been great to get out of there with a point, but they made a play and we didn’t.
“We’ll learn and our focus now turns to St. Louis. But, this is the Big Ten, that’s what makes it a good conference. They have some excellent players, they played very hard and we played very hard, but it’s difficult to win in the Big Ten when you allow two goals.”
Junior Christopher Mueller made the difference for the Badgers in the game, as he slashed the net in the 77th minute to equalize the score and force overtime. Nikola Atlija sent the ball high to Mueller who trickled it into the bottom right corner from 12 yards out. It was Mueller’s second goal of the season and Atlija’s first assist of the year.
With the clock winding down in the first half, Christopher Mueller had a free-kick opportunity from just outside the box, but it sailed over the net.
Despite a few breaks by both teams, the first half brought a scoreless game.
Wisconsin led corner kicks, 9-3, while the two teams tied the shot battle, 15-15. Penn State’s four points and two goals are the most given up by the Badgers by an opponent this season. It was also the most corner kicks by Wisconsin in a single match this season.
Mueller led the Badgers with seven shots, which tied his season high. Catalano and Barlow each logged three shots on the night.
Junior goalie Philip Schilling notched five saves on the day, the second-highest total for him this season. He also had a game-high two shots on goal. Arguably his best save of the game came in the first half as Penn State had their best look at the goal early in the game in ninth minute where Schilling easily stopped the hard shot.
“As I told the guys, the focus now turns to St. Louis for us. We have a home Big Ten game next weekend and that’s the way it’s supposed to be,” Trask said. “I know the guys are bummed out about tonight's loss, but I think they realize they put forth a good effort and we’ll learn and move on.”
The Badgers are back in action when they return home to play the Saint Louis Bilikens on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the McClimon Complex in Madison.