The Wisconsin Badgers and Oregon Ducks are two athletic departments very familiar with each other. So it was a bit fitting that the two got together to open up the 2014 athletic season in Madison. For the Badgers it was a chance to begin a season full of expectations on the right foot.
Wisconsin was picked to finish second in the Big Ten’s preseason coaches’ poll, and on Friday night the team got off to a bright start with a 1-0 victory over Oregon at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
The win pushed UW’s record in home openers to 12-3-1 since 1999.
It was senior Cara Walls giving the Badgers all the firepower it needed, netting her first goal of the season in the 54th minute. For the senior leader, it was a case of picking up right where she left off — as she led the Badgers with nine goals in 2013.
Walls was fed by a great series of plays, starting with U.S. U-20 international Rose Lavelle’s header to Kodee Williams who split two defenders and slotted a perfect pass to Walls who got the goal.
From then on it was a tightly packed team effort that carried Wisconsin to victory, and speaking after the game that was the point driven home by Walls herself.
“It felt good to get the goal, but I’m more proud of our team and the work that everyone put in,” Walls said. “It was a great team effort and it came from everyone tonight.”
Wisconsin’s second half goal was a bit interesting considering the lack of overall offense in the half (just five shots0. It wasn’t wasn’t the case in the first half though, as the Badgers outshot Oregon 10-6 in the period.
Each keeper had a relatively easy go of it though, as both made just one save on the night.
UW will continue its season-opening home stand by hosting Tennessee at 2p.m. CT on Sunday.
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