The Michigan women's soccer team is going on the defensive this weekend.
The Wolverines (2-1-1 Big Ten, 8-2-2 overall) will go on the road for a pair of conference games.
Tomorrow, Michigan heads to Evanston to take on Northwestern (2-3, 7-4-1) and Sunday, the Wolverines will travel to cheese country to face No. 11 Wisconsin (4-0-1, 9-2-2).
The Badgers currently hold the top spot in the Big Ten.
The Wolverines are hoping to change their fortunes as they come off last weekend's conference losses to No.15 Penn State and No.17 Minnesota at home.
However, Michigan is not going to rely on luck to snap its current four- game losing streak.
"We have to be aggressive and match our opponents intensity," Michigan coach Debbie Belkin said. "Above all else, we have to play smarter defense."
Belkin anticipates two physical games this weekend.
"Northwestern is a skilled team with a lot of toughness," Belkin said. "While Wisconsin, the conference leader, is a physical team in the mold of Minnesota."
As the last line of defense, sophomore goalie Jessica Jones looks to play a key role in taming the offensive attacks of both the Wildcats and the Badgers.
Jones is in pursuit of the single-season save record.
With 54 saves and counting, she is just 31 saves short of the record (85) held by senior Jori Welchans.
Jones has a 1.64 goals-against average and holds a 3-4-2 record.
How does Jones prepare to face teams with potent offenses like Northwestern and Wisconsin?
"I just go into games looking to be consistent and keep the ball out of the net," Jones said. "I am basically satisfied with my game, but I need to work on head balls and crosses."
Michigan's defense has been brilliant in some games, and it has had its problems in others.
"We are just getting used to each other and getting our communication down around the goal," Jones said.
The Wildcats are coming off a 3-1 victory over Indiana. And this is the same team that shutout No. 15 Penn State, 4-0.
Northwestern's starting goalie, Wendy Scholz, has played in all of the Wildcats' games this year, compiling a 7-4-1 record with a 1.24 goals-against average
"She has played in all but 20 minutes of this season," Wildcats coach Marcia McDermott. "Her style is one of versatility."
And what should the Wolverines expect from the Badgers?
"We play a physical brand of soccer and our players are tall and good in the air," Badgers coach Dean Duerst said. When asked how his team matches up with Michigan he said, "We don't match up to a team, we make them match up to us by inflicting our style of play on them."
The starting goalie for the Badgers has local ties. Senior goalie Julie Johnson hails from Ann Arbor, attending Huron High School.
She ranks first in the conference with a .573 goals against average and her record stands at 7-0-2. She has allowed five goals all year.
Another factor which Michigan must consider going into this weeks play is the memory of last years 3-2 overtime loss to Wisconsin in Ann Arbor.
Jones was not in net for last year's game, but she remembers it well.
"We outplayed them for most of the game but they managed to tie it up at two with only eight seconds left," Jones said. Then, they scored early in (overtime)."
Junior co-captain Debbie Flaherty said that last year's game will be a source of motivation.
"We want to pay them back for last year."