University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHERS ELIMINATED ON LAST-MINUTE PENN STATE GOAL
11/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Penn State (18-2-1) dominated in the first half, outshooting the Gophers by a 17-1 margin. A pair of diving Eibensteiner saves turned back golden scoring opportunities for the Nittany Lions.
The Golden Gophers played inspired soccer in the second half. Penn State still managed to put more pressure on the Gopher goal and registered a 9-3 advantage in shots but the match had turned into a physical game in the midfield.
Penn State head coach Pat Farmer took objection to the physical play allowed by the officials and was ejected from the match with a red card at the 17:33 mark of the second half.
With regulation time running down, Penn State inserted Welsh, who had missed the last five matches with a stress fracture of her right foot and was considered ready only on a need-be basis for the match, into the lineup with 5:16 left to play.
A Minnesota foul gave Penn State a free kick from 25 yards left of the goal. Bonnie Young booted a line shot into the box that Welsh nudged into the net for the game winner. Her mission accomplished, Welsh was then immediately substituted for after her heroic effort.
Penn State finished with a 26-4 lead in shots and a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks. Nittany Lion goalkeeper Emily Oleksiuk collected the shutout with four saves.
Minnesota ends its season with a record of 8-10-1.
