MADISON, Wisc. – Big Ten regular season runner-up Wisconsin overcame a strong first half by the seventh seeded Rutgers men's soccer team to advance to next weekend's Big Ten Tournament semifinals with a 6-3 win over the Scarlet Knights on Sunday afternoon.
Rutgers (4-13-1) held a 2-0 early lead on the second-seeded Badgers by the game's 14
th minute with Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection
Thomas DeVizio helping to set up both scores.
Sophomore
Brandon Golden opened up the afternoon's scoring heading in a free kick by DeVizio at the far side of the field in the 11
th minute.
A mere three minutes later, a DeVizio throw-in at the far side was controlled by redshirt junior
Brian Hawkins along the right side of the box. Sending the ball in,
Miles Hackett beat Badger keeper Dean Cowdroy for a header to give Rutgers the two-goal edge.
Wisconsin (10-5-2) struck in the 31
st minute. After sophomore
Bryce Washington blocked an attempt by the Badgers' Issac Schlenker off a restart, Noah Leibold was able to collect the loose ball and fire from distance to place the ball just under the crossbar.
The Scarlet Knights, however, would punch back and take a 3-1 lead.
Hackett passed off to First Team All-Big Ten pick
Jordan Hall from the left side of the box. The Big Ten's leading scorer made the stop with his right foot, then fired from the left, hitting the right post and into the Wisconsin net for his 14
th goal of the season in the 38
th minute.
The Badgers reduced their deficit to a goal in the closing moments of the first half as a diving header by Patrick Yim at the far post off a Wisconsin corner saw Rutgers with the 3-2 edge at the intermission.
The second half belonged to the Badgers.
Schlenker kicked off second half scoring knocking in a long throw-in five minutes into the second stanza, while Noah Melick headed in a corner serve from Leibold for the game-winner in the 70
th minute.
Wisconsin went on to add two late insurance goals with a Melick strike from six yards out following a takeaway in the 78
th minute and Alex Alfaro putting away a rebound in the 83
rd minute.
"We were in a situation to manage the game and get out of there with a great win," said head coach
Dan Donigan. "However, we did things to ourselves that we unable deal with in giving them restart opportunities, which they are very good at, and didn't make plays to put ourselves in better situations. We gave ourselves a chance. We were sitting in a good situation going into the half. Our backs were up against the wall against the wind in the second half with a team that's going to pop balls into the box. That's exactly what they did and we did not manage it. They got their second half goals off restart situations and it was too much for us."
The Badgers advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals to meet No. 3 Michigan.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (
www.facebook.com/RutgersMensSoccer) and Twitter (
www.twitter.com/RUMensSoccer) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with
www.ScarletKnights.com. For additional updates, download the
Rutgers Gameday App.
- RU -
