However, the Badgers won last season in Happy Valley, and who better to take down the defending conference champion than the woman who helped guide that program from its infancy to a national title contender.
Behind a goal from Laurie Nosbusch and seven saves from goalkeeper Michele Dalton, the Badgers earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over PSU. It was the type of win that Wilkins, who was an assistant at Penn State before becoming head coach from 2000-06, thinks can propel Wisconsin to bigger and better things in 2011.
“Opening the Big Ten Conference with a win against the perennial champion is always good,” she said. “I think our biggest concern going forward is consistency. The two games prior to it, I don’t think we were at our maximum level.
“However, our play in the Penn State game set a standard for the team as to where they need to be, and I think if they can continue to be at that level, it’s going to be a good Big Ten season.
“Having so many returning players who have battled through some obstacles — we’ve had some injuries — where their competitive spirit is right now, I think is very good,” Wilkins continued. “I still think we’re going to continue working on the details in areas we need to get better, like set pieces or during the run of play.”
Wisconsin currently holds a 6-3-0 record and 1-0-0 mark in conference play, even though injuries have prevented the team from playing at full strength.
Sophomore midfielder Kodee Williams, who finished second on the team last season with four goals and four assists, is out for the entire season. Senior forward Erin Jacobsen, who was named second-team All-Big Ten last season, is also lost for the year after suffering a season-ending injury in the team’s exhibition game against Marquette on Aug. 13.
