After failing to make the postseason for the fifth consecutive year, the NIU women’s soccer team will try to finish with its first winning record since 1998.

To do that, the Huskies (6-6-5) must defeat Wisconsin (13-4-1), which is on a six-game winning streak.

“I think it’s important to every program to finish with a winning record,” NIU coach Frank Horvat said. “It’s something we all want to do, and we are up for the challenge.”

The Badgers feature junior midfielder Amy Vermuelen, who is second in the Big Ten in scoring with 31 points and third in goals with 11. NIU has scored 20 goals all season.

“I think they are pretty close to getting in the top 25, and we would like to make sure they don’t,” Horvat said.

The Huskies never have beaten the Badgers in their six matches all-time, and they will have their work cut out for them this time around.

Wisconsin is 8-0 this season in non-conference games while NIU is 3-2-1. The closest the Huskies have come to beating the Badgers was a 1-0 overtime loss at Madison in 1997.

A win would allow the Huskies to finish on a high note after they were eliminated from the playoffs last weekend with losses to Bowling Green and Toledo in their final two conference matches.

“We’re pretty upset we couldn’t get those two wins,” NIU defenseman Jamie Figura said. “It would be good to finish above .500, though; we haven’t done that since I’ve been here.”

The Huskies last Big Ten victory came in 1998 with a 3-2 win over Iowa. This will be Wisconsin’s final match in preparation for the Big Ten tournament.