IU running out of chances

The agenda is starting to thin for the women's soccer team.\nAnd sitting in ninth place, the Hoosiers are running out of opportunities to climb the Big Ten ladder. With five games left in conference play, IU would not make the Big Ten tournament field the first weekend of November.\nBut despite the setbacks, the Hoosiers are just four points out of fourth place, and their last five games are against five of the six teams between third and eighth places in the conference. In other words, winning puts the Hoosiers in the Big Ten tourney.\nIU plays Wisconsin at 7 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium and then tackles Minnesota at noon Sunday.\n"The Big Ten is really screwy," coach Joe Kelley said. "Everyone's within two wins of each other right now. (Wisconsin and Minnesota) are two teams that we can definitely compete with and can beat."\nWisconsin (4-2) sits in third place in the Big Ten. The Badgers (8-4) have been hot, beating Michigan in Ann Arbor and taking Penn State to the final seconds last Sunday.\nThe Badgers gave up a last-minute goal to the Nittany Lions with the game scoreless in Madison.\n"It was a great game, a great battle," Wisconsin coach Dean Duerst, said. "A loss like that is hard to swallow, but we need to use that game as determination for the rest of the season."\nThe Badgers' primary scoring threat is forward Allyson Wagner, who leads the team in goals and points. The senior and co-captain has led the Badgers in scoring in three of her four years. Last year, she was sidelined for a portion of the year with hip injury, but has fully recovered.\nMinnesota (4-6, 2-3), snapped a three-game losing streak last weekend, beating Ohio State, 2-0. The Gophers play Purdue tonight.\nKelley said the biggest problem won't be stopping Minnesota and Wisconsin; it will be starting IU's own offense. \nKelley said he sensed the front line was tentative this past weekend in the 0-0 tie with Michigan State.\n"We need to be more creative up front," Kelley said. "I think if we can do that with the players we have, we're a harder team to defend because of our overall speed and the ability to control the ball."\nKelley said this weekend the forwards should look to take a shot anywhere inside 20 yards and then try to create a scoring opportunity from that. Once again, they will have to do so with a handful of starters not in the lineup.\nSenior back Kendal Willis' playing time is doubtful with ankle problems. Sophomore forward Kate Kastl, who played with hip and ankle problems last weekend, is unlikely to see action this weekend. Sophomore midfielder Emily Markwell is doubtful with a severely sprained ankle, and sophomore forward Kristen Sprunger is still battling a stress fracture in her ankle. \nWith potentially four starters out, Kelley said he will rely on reserves.\nA group of freshmen have had to come in and fill the shoes of the injured starters, Kelley said.\n"I have received so much support from everyone on the team," freshman back Erin Hesselbach said. "Jena (Kluska), Kendal (Willis) and (Chrissy Heubi) are just three of the players that have offered support and advice."\n"I learn something new each game from them"