Photo by Tribune's Jeff VorvaBy Jeff Vorva
Tribune reporter
From 1979-84, Angelo DiBernardo played professional soccer with the New York Cosmos. He had a chance to rub elbows and practice with retired legend Pele and live the celebrity life for a while.
"We were on top of the world," DiBernardo said.

WPSL Communications
Chicago Red Stars midfielder/forward Vanessa DiBernardo was named to the Women's Premier Soccer League Team of the Week (for Week 6) on Tuesday.
DiBernardo, the 2010 Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year, tallied the game-winning goal off of a corner kick to lead the Red Stars to a 2-0 victory over 2010 WPSL National Semifinalists FC Milwaukee last Thursday.

After handing then-No. 6 Indiana its first loss of the season Sunday, the University of Wisconsin men's soccer team has caught the eye of coaches and media in the Big Ten Conference the nation alike.

Midfielder Nick Janus and goalkeeper Max Jentsch (Hartland Arrowhead) collected individual awards in the wake of the Badgers' 2-0 win over the Hoosiers, while UW moved into two national rankings after its first win over Indiana in 16 years.

Strike partners Cara Walls (Wauwatosa East) and Laurie Nosbusch (Mequon Homestead) both scored, but it was goalkeeper Michele Dalton who made the difference for the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team Friday.

The senior made 11 saves, several from point-blank range, as the Badgers shut out high-scoring Morgan Marlborough and Nebraska 2-0 in a Big Ten Conference match in Lincoln, Neb.

MINNEAPOLIS (Feb. 2, 2011)

The Minnesota women's soccer team has announced its 2011 signing class with seven new additions to the Gophers program including a trio of All-Americans, the 2010 Star Tribune Player of the Year, the 2010 Pioneer Press Player of the Year and the 2010 Minnesota Ms.

The University of Wisconsin women's soccer team kicks off its spring exhibition schedule Saturday.

But the Badgers' matches against Toledo and Big Ten Conference rival Michigan were moved indoors to the Glick Field House because of cold weather in Ann Arbor, Mich.

UW, which was 11-4-5 overall and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament last fall, takes on the Rockets at 5 p.

University of Wisconsin defender Catie Sessions was called into a training camp for the U.S. Under-20 women's national team later this month at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

It's the first national program call-up for Sessions, who had one goal and five assists in 19 appearances (18 starts) for the Badgers as a freshman last fall.

Scott Lamphear's career with the University of Wisconsin men's soccer team was like no other.

The defender is one of two All-Americans in program history, made the All-Big Ten Conference first team three times, is one of four men's soccer players to be UW's annual Big Ten Medal of Honor winner and was the co-captain of the 1995 team that won the program's lone NCAA championship.

Vanessa DiBernardoThe Chicago Red Stars of the Women's Premier Soccer League announce four additions to its 2011 roster.
Joining the Red Stars roster are University of Illinois forward and Naperville, Ill., native Vanessa DiBernardo; University of Illinois forward and Homer Glen, Ill., native Shayla Mutz; Indiana University forward and Barrington, Ill.

The players joining the University of Wisconsin men's soccer program this fall is among the country's best incoming classes, according to College Soccer News.

The website ranked coach John Trask's second recruiting class at UW 18th in the nation and second among Big Ten Conference teams, behind only Indiana.

The college soccer season kicks off Friday, with all four of the state's NCAA Division I teams in action.

Two of the sides are at home: No. 12 Marquette plays host to Western Michigan at Valley Fields, while UW-Green Bay and its 13-member freshman class welcome Nebraska-Omaha to Aldo Santaga Stadium for the Mavericks' first match as a Division I program.

The final tuneup for the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team before the Big Ten Conference schedule starts ended in stunning fashion.

Senior forward Chelsi Abbott chipped a shot over Badgers senior goalkeeper Michele Dalton from the 6-yard box off a free kick in the 89th minute as Central Michigan surprised UW 2-1 in a non-conference match Wednesday night at the McClimon Complex.

It was a rough and tumble Saturday afternoon at the McClimon Complex.

When the dust settled, the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team had its second consecutive win over perennial Big Ten Conference power Penn State.

Laurie Nosbusch (Mequon Homestead) scored in the 18th minute and fellow senior Michele Dalton made seven saves for the shutout as the Badgers fought past the 21st-ranked Nittany Lions 1-0 in a conference opener.

For the first time in 13 years, the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team has started the Big Ten Conference season with back-to-back victories.

Freshman striker Cara Walls (Wauwatosa East) scored her second goal of the game and team-best sixth of the season in the 84th minute as the Badgers knocked off Michigan State 2-1 on Friday in East Lansing, Mich.

The University of Wisconsin and Michigan women's soccer teams have played a lot of minutes against one another the past three years, with not a lot of goals to show for it.

Sunday's meeting was no different, as the sides played a 0-0 draw in a Big Ten Conference match in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Freshman defender A.J. Cochran scored his first collegiate goal on a diving header in the 81st minute to give the University of Wisconsin a 1-1 draw with state rival Marquette in a non-conference men's soccer match Wednesday night at the McClimon Complex.

Cochran finished off a free kick by junior midfielder Tomislav Zadro from the right corner as the Badgers (4-3-2) extended their unbeaten streak to four heading into their Big Ten Conference opener Sunday afternoon at home against No.

Down two goals in miserable conditions Thursday night at the McClimon Complex, the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team fought back to remain unbeaten in Big Ten Conference play.

Juniors Lindsey Johnson (Mequon Homestead) and Alev Kelter scored in a 3-minute span in the second half as the Badgers earned a 2-2 draw with Minnesota on a wet, cold night that featured wind gusts of nearly 30 mph.

The University of Wisconsin women's soccer team has created a home-field advantage at the McClimon Complex over the past three seasons.

But Sunday afternoon, the Badgers suffered a rare Big Ten Conference setback on their home turf.

Tiffany Cameron scored the lone goal on a shot that clipped in off the post in the 48th minute as Ohio State held off UW 1-0, handing the Badgers their first conference loss of the season and snapping their nine-game Big Ten home unbeaten streak (5-0-4).

The last time the University of Wisconsin men's soccer team beat Indiana, most of the current Badger players were toddlers.

But they're all grown up now and helping the UW program continue to develop. They made their biggest statement yet Sunday afternoon.

Tomislav Zadro and Nick Janus scored and Max Jentsch (Hartland Arrowhead) saved a penalty kick as the Badgers knocked off the sixth-ranked Hoosiers 2-0 in a Big Ten Conference match watched by 1,194 fans at the McClimon Complex, their first win in the series since 1995.

After trailing 1-0 at half, the University of Minnesota women's soccer team rallied in the second half to pull out a 2-1 Big Ten Conference road victory over the University of Iowa. Freshmen Taylor Uhl and Becca Roberts each tallied a goal to help the Golden Gophers pull out the comeback. Morgan Showalter of the [.

For the second straight Sunday, the University of Wisconsin men's soccer team earned a milestone victory.

Junior Tomislav Zadro scored the Badgers' opener and set up senior Josh Thiermann (Stoughton) for what proved to be the difference in a 2-1 victory over Michigan in a Big Ten Conference match.

Eclipse Select Communications
CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumna and University of Wisconsin senior goalkeeper Michele Dalton (Mount Prospect, Ill./John Hersey High School) was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Dalton recorded a season-high 11 saves during Wisconsin's 2-0 victory over Nebraska on Friday in Lincoln, Neb.

With the Big Ten Conference women's soccer standings jam-packed behind leader Penn State heading into the final two weeks of the season, the University of Wisconsin gave up a late goal and dropped two points with a 1-1 draw against last-place Northwestern on Friday night in Evanston, Ill.

Junior defender Joana Bielefeld (Brookfield Central) scored her first career goal for the Badgers (8-4-3 overall) on a header in the 73rd minute, but freshman Niki Sebo did the same in the 87th and the Wildcats (2-11-1, 1-5-1 Big Ten) held on for the tie despite eight shots by UW in the two overtime periods.

Halfway through the Big Ten Conference men's soccer season, things have gone perfectly for the University of Wisconsin.

Chris Prince scored his fourth goal of the season in the 33rd minute and fellow sophomore Max Jentsch (Hartland Arrowhead) made two saves for the shutout as the Badgers blanked Michigan State 1-0 Sunday afternoon at the McClimon Complex for their third straight win to open conference play.

On Friday night, the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team was three minutes away from being in second place in the Big Ten Conference.

By Sunday night, the Badgers were in a three-way tie for fourth and just one point above seventh – the final qualifying spot for the conference tournament.

Jenna MillerEclipse Select Communications
CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club U-17 midfielder Jenna Miller did not need another year to make her collegiate decision. Miller, a native of Winnetka, Ill., and a junior at New Trier High School, has announced her verbal commitment to play for the University of Illinois women's soccer program beginning in 2013.

Coming off a disappointing weekend, the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team bounced back in a big way.

The Badgers had five players score in a 5-1 rout of Purdue in a Big Ten Conference match Friday night at the McClimon Complex, their best offensive output in more than three years.

Two goals by Cara Walls (Wauwatosa East). Two big saves by Michele Dalton. And a two-win weekend for the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team.

Walls scored in each half, giving the freshman a team-high nine goals on the season, and Dalton stopped a potential tying penalty kick as the Badgers blanked Indiana 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at the McClimon Complex to clinch a berth in the Big Ten Conference tournament.

In a match between the last two unbeaten men's soccer teams in the Big Ten Conference teams, scoring chances were at a premium Sunday afternoon.

And in the end, one defensive breakdown proved to be the difference.

Junior Nick Gendron worked his way open between two University of Wisconsin defenders and headed a cross from Layth Masri past goalkeeper Max Jentsch for the lone goal in the 76th minute as Northwestern topped the Badgers 1-0 in Evanston, Ill.

After dropping a 2-0 decision to Iowa in its regular-season finale Saturday afternoon at the McClimon Complex, the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team face an intriguing week ahead with the Big Ten Conference tournament and next Monday's NCAA tournament announcement.

The Badgers (10-6-3 overall, 5-3-3 Big Ten) finished fourth in the conference and will play Border Battle rival Minnesota (8-9-2, 5-4-2) in a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal at 1:30 p.

There's no doubt about the progress the University of Wisconsin men's soccer team has made this season. But there's also plenty more to do for the Badgers to consistently compete with the nation's best programs.

Sunday afternoon was a good example of that.

UW outshot Ohio State 20-13 and put eight shots on frame, but couldn't find a goal and ended up dropping its second consecutive Big Ten Conference match, 2-0 to the Buckeyes in its regular-season home finale at the McClimon Complex.

Wisconsin's Michele Dalton (left) and
UW-Milwaukee's Jamie ForbesEclipse Select Communications
CHICAGO -- Two Eclipse Select Soccer Club alumni earned top goalkeeper accolades in their respective conferences this week.
On Tuesday, Wisconsin senior Michele Dalton (Mount Prospect, Ill.

Needing a win to bolster its chances of making the NCAA tournament, the University of Wisconsin women's soccer team gave up two goals in the opening 11 minutes and lost to Minnesota 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament Wednesday night in Evanston, Ill.

The Badgers (10-7-3) had only one shot on goal in the match at windy Lakeside Field on the shores of Lake Michigan, and that came with just 6 minutes left.

Evanston, Ill Courtesy of Gophersports.com On a gusty night in Evanston, Ill., a pair of first half goals lifted the University of Minnesota women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over its bordering rival Wisconsin in the first round of the Big Ten Conference Tournament on Wednesday. The Golden Gophers (9-9-2, 6-4-2 Big Ten) [.

Evanston, Ill Courtesy of Gophersports.com The Big Ten Conference announced their All-Big Ten and All-Freshman Teams on Tuesday, and senior Josie Solie and freshmen duo Taylor Uhl and Becca Roberts received postseason accolades this season for their play with the University of Minnesota women's soccer team.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

It's no seceret that the Big Ten has been underperforming in 2011 but the lack of a dominant team should make for an interesting tournament as the Big Ten Tournament kicks off at the University of Michigan.

Indiana is the lone ranked team in the Big Ten but a loss against Wisconsin and draws against Northwestern and Michigan State has relegated the Hoosiers to the No.

For the second straight year, the University of Wisconsin men's soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament.

Sophomore midfielder Nick Janus scored in the 84th minute and senior forward Josh Thiermann (Stoughton) added an insurance goal in the 89th as the third-seeded Badgers blanked No.

By CALEB SONNELAND

Fourth-seeded Indiana booked its place in the semifinals of the Big Ten conference tournament after topping No. 5 Michigan State with a 2-1 win with goals on either side of halftime on Wednesday.

Sophomore Nikita Kotlov opened up scoring with his seventh goal of the season in the 38th minute, and senior Alec Purdie doubled the advantage just a minute after the restart with his eighth of the year.

Eclipse Select Communications
CHICAGO -- Eclipse Select Soccer Club alum and Ohio State senior defender David Tiemstra (Clarendon Hills, Ill./Hinsdale Central) was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year, the conference announced Thursday.
Tiemstra, who also was included on this year's All-Big Ten First Team, led an Ohio State defensive group that allowed only 20 goals in 18 regular-season matches, and only seven goals in six Big Ten games.

The University of Wisconsin men's soccer team waited for its offense to arrive Friday afternoon, but it just never happened.

Now the Badgers will have to wait until Monday night to see if they did enough this season to earn an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament.

Junior midfielder Minh Vu scored in the 29th minute and Penn State held UW without a shot on goal in a 1-0 victory in the Big Ten Conference tournament semifinals in Ann Arbor, Mich.