Tag: Wisconsin women’s soccer

Where Wisconsin women’s soccer lands in preseason polls

Where Wisconsin women’s soccer lands in preseason polls

Wisconsin’s women’s soccer was ranked No. 6 in the Big Ten and No. 19 in the nation in preseason polls this week.

The Badgers learned of their conference nomination on Tuesday, a day before their United Soccer Coaches’ national ranking.

Wisconsin landed behind only UCLA (No. 1), Penn State (No. 2), Michigan State (No. 3), Nebraska (No. 4) and USC (No. 5). Rutgers (No. 7), Iowa (No. 8), Ohio State (No. 9) and Indiana (No. 10) rounded the conference’s preseason top 10.

Three Badgers were also listed among Big Ten players to watch: Hailey Baumann, Maddie Ishaug and Aryssa Mahart. Baumann will enter her second season with UW after helping anchor its defensive, Ishaug will look to build off her team-leading 2,068-minute total in 2024 and Mahart aims to continue her offensive tear (25 shots on goal, seven assists) during her third season in Madison.

The Badgers registered an overall record of 14-5-7 in 2023 and fell to Iowa in the Big Ten title game. UW officially begins its season on the road against No. 3 BYU on Thursday, Aug. 15.

Former Wisconsin Badgers multi-sport athlete wins bronze medal in Olympic rugby

Former Wisconsin Badgers multi-sport athlete wins Bronze medal in rugby

The U.S. women’s rugby team defeated Australia 14-12 in the bronze-medal match at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, capturing the nation’s their first ever rugby sevens medal. Part of the winning squad was former Wisconsin Badgers women’s soccer and women’s hockey player Alev Kelter.

Kelter was a member of the United States women’s national under-16 soccer team and the United States women’s national under-18 ice hockey team prior to arriving in Madison in 2009.

While at Wisconsin, she excelled at both sports for four years, earning All-Big Ten honors in soccer in both 2009 and 2010 while scoring 17 goals in her time as a defender with the women’s hockey team.

Kelter made the switch to rugby after college and she’s appeared the Summer Olympics, the Pan American Games and Women’s Rugby World Cup, amongst other events in her career.

Kelter is just another example of the long list of fantastic athletes who have played for the Badgers and gone on to do spectacular things.

Wisconsin multi-sport alumnus earns two Olympic victories in women’s rugby

Wisconsin multi-sport alumnus pockets two Olympic victories in women’s rugby

Wisconsin women’s hockey and soccer alumnus Alev Kelter helped guide USA rugby to two wins on the second day of competition at the Olympic Games.

USA Rugby kicked off its day at 9:30 a.m. CT with a 36-7 victory against Japan. Kelter did not record any points in her first match but responded with a spectacular performance later in the day.

Kelter started against Brazil in her second Olympic appearance of 2024 and executed on a try fewer than 45 seconds into the match. The former Badger followed the earlier try by scoring on a conversion at the 8:09 mark before yet another conversion late in the second half.

USA Rugby would go on to a 24-5 win and finish 2-0 on the day.

At UW, Kelter represented both the women’s hockey and soccer teams from 2009-13. She was named second-team All-Big Ten on the pitch in 2012 and NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team member during her sophomore season in 2011.

The top two teams in each pool, as well as the best two teams placed third in their pools, will qualify to the quarterfinal round. The United States is competing alongside Brazil, France and Japan as a member of Pool C.

Kelter and the United States will continue action at 9:30 a.m. ET on Monday, July 29.

Former Badger helps U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team advance in Olympic Games

Former Badger helps U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team advance in Olympic Games

Wisconsin women’s soccer alumnus Rose Lavelle helped the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team advance to the knockout stage at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Sunday.

The United States defeated Germany 4-1 in its second match of group play. The Americans defeated Zambia in their Olympic opener on July 25.

Lavelle and company now hold sole leadership in their group — which also includes Zambia, Germany and Australia.

As she did against Zambia, the former Badger started at midfield alongside Samantha Coffee. Lavelle racked up four corner kicks and played all 90 minutes of the match.

In terms of scoring, the United States’ Sophia Smith nailed two goals while Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams chipped in with one apiece. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher finished with four saves as well.

This marks Lavelle’s second Olympic appearance following her stint at the Olympic Games Tokyo. She played in all six games en route to the United States’ bronze medal finish in 2021.

Lavelle and the United States will square off against Australia next at 1:00 p.m. ET on July 31.