omislav Zadro may not have known what he
had until after his knee collapsed and soccer
was taken away. But Wisconsin men's coach
John Trask knew what he didn't have after losing
Zadro for the 2012 season. He didn't have his All-Big
Ten midfielder, his LeBron James, his quarterback.
"He's the guy who makes us go in the attacking
part of the field," said Trask, acknowledging that
Zadro has comparable value to his program that
James has to the Miami Heat. "Like a good quarterback, it's not just about throws; it's about everything else that goes into the presence that he gives
our team."
Trask didn't stop there on Zadro, a 6-foot-3,
175-pound senior from Toronto, Ontario.
"I'd be very surprised," Trask said, "at the end of
the year if he's not an All-American."
Do the math. That would make two. UW junior A.J.
Cochran is a preseason All-American.
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VARSITY August 29, 2013
"That's where things get interesting for a team
like us to possibly have two All-Americans," said
Trask, who's entering his fourth season at Wisconsin. "We've got some other good players as well."
Good enough to guarantee an NCAA tournament
appearance?
"I've put the challenge to them," Trask said. "I'd
like to think ― knock on wood from injury or strange
things happening ― that this is a team that not only
could qualify for the NCAA but have a chance to host
a game or two; a sizeable advantage when you get to
the tournament in soccer."
Zadro was on the same page.
"I honestly truly believe that we will be good this
year," he said.
Good is relative? What is good for the Badgers?
"Making it to the NCAA tournament and winning
a couple of games, a Sweet 16 for Wisconsin soccer,"
he said. "We haven't been there for awhile and it's
