University of Minnesota Athletics
Soccer Loses 5-2 at Illinois
10/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
- Box Score
The University of Minnesota women's soccer team suffered its worst defeat of the season today in Champaign, Ill., losing 5-2 to Illinois to fall to 6-6-0 overall and 1-5-0 in the Big Ten. Illinois scored four answered goals as the Golden Gophers allowed the most goals in a game since allowing five markers against Nebraska on Nov. 14, 1999, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Maroon and Gold got on the board first on junior forward Rachael Roth's team-leading ninth goal of the season. Roth tallied her first penalty kick goal of the year in the 29th minute. UI tied the match just 49 seconds later as Tara Hurless used a header on a free kick assist from Tara Schuling to beat Minnesota goalkeeper Karli Kopietz. Illinois took the lead for good in the 41st minute as UI goalkeeper punted the ball to Andrea Ridgeway who found herself on a breakaway. Ridgeway tallied her first goal of the season to put UI on top.
Kopietz was pulled from the game after that goal and replaced by sophomore Marni Prall. The second half was not kind to the back-up keeper as Illinois scored three times in eight minutes to put the match away. Tiffany Walker scored consecutive goals at the 70:17 and 75:17 marks to put UI up 4-1. Illinois closed out its scoring on the day at 78:15 on Tara Schuling's second goal of the season, an unassisted marker on a free kick. Prall was relieved with over three minutes remaining and replaced by sophomore Kelly Kraft.
The Golden Gophers rounded out the match's scoring on Keely Dinse's second goal of the season in the 89th minute. Dinse took a cross from Rebecca Dellaria to head the ball to the back of the net from four meters out. The assist was Dellaria's first point as a Golden Gopher.
Kopietz gained the loss to fall to 6-6-0 on the season. Illinois peppered the Minnesota goalkeepers with a 25-7 shot advantage, including a 15-6 shots-on-goal difference.
Minnesota continues its road trip with matches next weekend at Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Friday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m., and at Northwestern on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m.
