Tag: Dean Boltz

Wisconsin men’s soccer defeats second ranked opponent this season

Wisconsin men’s soccer defeats second ranked opponent of season

There’s something special brewing with the 2024 Wisconsin men’s soccer team.

The No. 8/7 Badgers trounced the No. 12 UCLA Bruins 4-1 Monday in their first conference match of the 2024 slate. The win marks the team’s second victory over a ranked opponent this season after UW took down No. 16 Kentucky 1-0 on Sept. 6.

Freshman sensation Dean Boltz scored his eighth goal of the season to put the Badgers up 1-0 in the 24th minute. Six minutes later, senior forward Kevin Andrews scored his first goal of the season to make it 2-0 before midfielder Trip Fleming, Wisconsin’s No. 2 scorer, made it 3-0 before halftime at the 40th minute.

Wisconsin would ultimately cruise to a 4-1 finish to remain undefeated at home. The team has allowed just six goals in seven games this season and boasts a +16 goal differential at home this season.

Wisconsin will return to the pitch on Sept. 21 with a match against unranked Viterbo University. After that contest, the Badgers’ final eight games of the regular season will come against Big Ten opponents.

Wisconsin men’s soccer starts 5-0-0 for first time since 2001

Wisconsin men’s soccer starts 5-0-0 for first time since 2001

The Wisconsin Badgers’ men’s soccer team took down the No. 23 Kentucky Wildcats to earn their first 5-0-0 start to a season since 2001 on Friday.

UW entered the contest ranked No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, a feat the crew had not achieved in seven seasons.

With four home wins against Marist, Drexel, UIC and Marquette under its belt, the team traveled to Lexington, Kentucky for its first road match of the season.

Midfielder Noah Glorioso ultimately pushed the Badgers ahead 1-0 against the Wildcats in the 78th minute after scoring on a crossing pass into the box. The goal arrived three minutes after superstar freshman Dean Boltz’s header was ruled offsides by officials.

UW and goaltender Matisse Hébert held strong for the game’s final 12 minutes to complete the shutout. The triumph sealed his third shutout of the season, the most among any goaltender in the Big Ten.

The win in Kentucky was also Wisconsin’s first against a ranked opponent this season. The Badgers will square off next against the unranked Maryland Terrapins on Friday, Sept. 13 in College Park at 7 p.m. CT. A match against the #6 UCLA Bruins follows on Sept. 16 in Los Angeles.