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Wilkins, Badgers start to answer questions against Red Stars

03/29/2015, 7:45pm CDT
By ERIC ANDERSON
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The University of Wisconsin women's soccer team didn't have a huge senior class last fall, with only five players completing their careers in 2014. But four of them played huge roles as the Badgers recorded a program-record 19 victories.

After about a month of practices, coach Paula Wilkins got her first look at her team without that key quartet on March 20 as UW opened its spring exhibition season against the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League.

Rookie midfielder Danielle Colaprico scored the lone goal on a rebound in the 2nd minute and trialist Michele Dalton (UW) posted the clean sheet as the Red Stars won the friendly 1-0 at Reddan Soccer Park's Goodman Pitch in Verona.

The professional side, preparing for its season opener next month, predictably dominated in terms of possession and chances. But the Badgers had their moments on the cool night and showed well overall, especially their veteran-laden midfield.

"It's going to give you the best idea of what it's going to be like when we play UCLA next year, when we play Penn State next year and we play all those guys," Wilkins said of facing a pro team. "It's good to get that one to start the spring,  because then we can start to fix things because we can see what our problems were."

The biggest questions for the Badgers in 2015 figure to be in goal, where Genevieve Richard had one of the best seasons in program history with a 0.42 goals-against average and 16 shutouts last fall, and up front, where the attacking duo of Cara Walls (Wauwatosa East) and Kodee Williams combined for 22 goals and eight assists.

"The goalkeepers and the forwards, that's the areas that we're looking for people to step up in," said Wilkins, whose team finished 19-3-2, won the Big Ten Conference tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last year.

Caitlyn Clem, who saw 80 minutes of action in relief of Richard as a redshirt freshman in 2014, and sophomore Meghan Ledin (Middleton) – Richard's backup in 2013 who took a redshirt last year – both played well against the Red Stars.

Clem got the start and made a nice save on Alyssa Mautz's early drive, but could only parry the hard shot and Colaprico finished off the rebound. Clem finished with four saves in the first half and Ledin stopped all eight shots she faced after halftime – including one by Walls, who was drafted by the Red Stars in January.

"I think both goalkeepers did (well)," Wilkins said. "We'll give them some positive feedback about that. It gives us some starts to build on right now and we're pretty excited about that."

The returning forwards on the UW roster for the fall include Marisa Kresge, Nikki Greenhalgh, Sydney McGinnis, Sarah Mondschein (Madison West) and Caitlin Riley, a quintet that has five career goals between them. Becca Harrison, listed as a midfielder, played up top against the Red Stars, and Wilkins said she's looking at ways to get All-American midfielder Rose Lavelle higher up the field.

"We've been moving people around in different roles," said Wilkins, whose team averaged 1.83 goals per game last season. "We're still trying to figure out the forwards. We obviously lost Kodee and Cara, and so I think that's an area that we still have to work on. We have some people coming in that are going to have some impact. ... But we've got to figure out where we're scoring."

The other senior who needs to be replaced is center back Ali Heller, who started all 24 matches in 2014 and 41 of a possible 43 games over the past two seasons. Holly Heckendorf (Sussex Hamilton), who has made six appearances over her first two seasons, got the start alongside returnee Brianna Stelzer against Chicago – Stelzer left the match early as a precaution after a minor injury, Wilkins said.

The Badgers continue their spring exhibition season April 12 against Big Ten rival Illinois in Madison; the location hasn't been announced.

WISCONSIN 0:1 (0:1 HT) CHICAGO RED STARS

March 20, 2015 Friendly at Goodman Pitch, Reddan Soccer Park, Verona
Chicago Red Stars – Danielle Colaprico 2

WISCONSIN: Caitlyn Clem; Molly Laufenberg, Holly Heckendorf, Brianna Stelzer, Kinley McNicoll; Nikki Greenhalgh, McKenna Meuer, Rose Lavelle, Marisa Kresge; Sydney McGinnis, Becca Harrison. Substitutes: Meghan Ledin (GK), Kylie Schwartz, Caitlin Riley, Alexis Tye, Sarah Mondschein, Aryln Reed.

CHICAGO RED STARS: Michele Dalton; Taryn Hemmings, Leigh Jakes (Jayden Barrett 59), Samantha Johnson, Arin Gilliland (Kelley McCloskey 73), Michelle Lomnicki, Danielle Colaprico, Vanessa DiBernardo, Alyssa Mautz (Jen Hoy 69), Cara Walls (Rachel Tejada 61), Sofia Huerta (Lillie Toaspern 85).

Shots: W 2, CRS 21. Fouls: W 6, CRS 7. Corner kicks: W 1, CRS 6. Saves: W 12, CRS 2. Discipline: None.

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