In its last game of the season, Northwestern (7-8-2, 4-4-0 B1G) suffered an extremely disappointing 2-1 road loss to Wisconsin (5-10-3, 2-3-3 B1G) on Wednesday.
Mike Roberge was on the receiving end of a Joey Calistri cross in the 19th minute, putting the ball in the back of the net and giving the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead. But after NU keeper Zak Allen saved a Wisconsin penalty kick in the 41st minute, the resulting rebound was crossed back in and headed for an equalizing goal by Luc Kazmierczak.
NU and Wisconsin were knotted up at one until the 68th minute, when the Badgers’ Mark Segbers controlled the ball in the box and was able to slip it past Allen. The ‘Cats amped up their goal-scoring efforts in the final 20 minutes, but to no avail, as Wisconsin stood firm and secured the victory.
NU had a chance to grab a share of the regular season Big Ten title with a win and an Ohio State loss, but exactly the opposite happened. Ohio State cruised against Michigan, winning 3-1, while NU disappointingly dropped its match against Wisconsin. For the Wildcats, the outcome is a fifth place finish in the B1G, and a visit to fourth-seeded Rutgers in the first game of the B1G Tournament on Sunday.
Rutgers (11-5-1, 4-4-0 B1G) will pose a tough test for Northwestern, as the Scarlet Knights had their way back on Oct. 16, defeating the ‘Cats 4-2. Northwestern will look to reverse the outcome on Sunday, as a B1G tournament run would do wonders for the ‘Cats in what has certainly been a down year.