No. 22 Badgers prepared for home UIC and Marquette matches | Wisconsin Badgers (2024)

Wisconsin looks to improve on 2-0-0 start

ROSTERS:WISCONSIN || UIC || MARQUETTE

MADISON, Wis.– After back-to- back 4-0 victories to begin the season, the newly ranked No. 22 Wisconsin men's soccer team looks to stay hot against two familiar teams, UIC and Marquette. The Badgers take on UIC first, with kickoff on Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. CT, and then in-state rival Marquette for some Monday Night Football at 7 p.m. CT.

Here are five things to know before the games.

1 – ONE…TWO…THREE…FOUR– The Badgers couldn't get off to a better start than they did last week, scoring four goals in each of their two victories against Marist and Drexel. The goal frenzy set new milestones for Wisconsin, giving them the first time scoring four goals or more in a game since 2022, the first time scoring 4+ goals in back-to-back games since 2001 and the first time scoring eight or more goals in the team's first two games of a season since 1993. The offensive explosion led to Wisconsin's No. 22 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. The last time the team placed in the polls was last season at No. 23.

2 – DEAN BOLTS TO THE TOP –Four players scored their first career goal last week. Sophom*ore's Trip Fleming and Ryan Quintos each netted one for Wisconsin against Drexel, while freshman Matthew Zachemski scored his first goal earlier against Marist.

It was Zachemski's Shockers FC Teammate, Dean Boltz, who stole the show though. Boltz began his collegiate career with three goals and one assist against Marist, before collecting another goal against Drexel. Boltz is the first Badger freshman to score a hat trick in his debut since Brian Bultman accomplished the feat in 2006 against IPFW, and the first Badger to record any hat trick since 2013. Boltz now tops all Big Ten players with four goals and nine points on the season. For his accomplishments, Boltz received numerous honors. He earned both the Big Ten Offensive and Freshman of the Week award, and placed on TopDrawerSoccer's National Team of the Week.

3 – TWO-WAY PLAY –It wasn't just the offense for the Badgers that stood out in their first two games. Wisconsin posted back-to-back shutouts to open the season. Freshman Matisse Hébert played all 180 minutes in net and now leads all Big Ten keepers in clean sheets. Hébert also collected Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week in his very first week of playing college soccer. In addition to Hébert, the Wisconsin defenders all showed up to play as well. Centerback Ryan Quintos scored his first career goal against Drexel. Freshman Ellis Jones and graduate student Roberto Burlew each made their Badger debut playing in the back, with Burlew collecting an assist against Drexel. Captain Birgir Baldvinsson played with the same prowess that earned him a Second Team All-Big Ten spot last season. Each defender played a key role in Wisconsin's victories, holding both opponents to just one shot on goal each contest.

4 – FIGURING OUT THE FLAMES –The Badger's first opponent this week is UIC. The two teams met last season in Chicago, with UIC handing Wisconsin its first loss. This time, however, the teams will face off at McClimon, where the Badgers hold a 4-1 record against the Flames, including an NCAA tournament victory in 2017. UIC was a quality team last season, finishing 11-5-3, but opened up this season with a 4-3 loss to DePaul. The team rebounded against Green Bay for a 4-2 victory, spurred by a two-goal, one-assist performance by Senior Bart Muns. UIC also rosters former Badger Jack Finnegan, who scored in the opener against DePaul.

5 – WHAT TO MAKE OF MARQUETTE –Wisconsin's next opponent is the in-state rivalMarquette Golden Eagles. Besides 2020, Wisconsin and Marquette faced each other every year since 1977, with UW leading the all-time series 23-16-8. Marquette won the latest battle however, beating Wisconsin 3-1 last season. in Milwaukee. Marquette began this season strong as well, receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll. The Golden Eagles beat the same opponents that Wisconsin played to start the season, taking down Drexel 2-0 and then Marist 6-1. Marquette also rosters a former Badger, Mitchell Dryden, who leads the team with three goals and seven points.

EXTRA TIME - Both games will take place at the Badgers' McClimon Soccer Complex, with admission free to all. Both games willstream on B1G+, andlive stats for both gamescan be found on the Badger men's soccer schedule at uwbadgers.com. Live updates will also be given on @BadgerMSoccer on X, as well as @badgermsoccer on Instagram.