University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Soccer Drops Southwest Missouri State in Home Opener
9/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The University of Minnesota women's soccer team dominated in their home opener today, crushing Southwest Missouri State 3-0 at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. Junior forward Rachael Roth scored two second- half goals to lead the Golden Gophers (2-1).
After a scoreless first period that saw the Maroon and Gold outshoot the Bears 19-3, Minnesota found ways to capitalize on the numerous scoring chances in the second stanza. Roth tallied the first marker of the game in the 52nd minute, using a cross from midfielder Anna Nudell Lee to beat SMS goalkeeper Alexis Stormo low left. It turned out to be Roth's fourth game-winning goal of her career.
Minnesota struck again about 14 minutes later as freshman midfielder Annie Carr scored her first goal as a Golden Gopher. Carr fired the ball from outside the 18-yard box to beat Stormo upper left. No assists were credited on the goal. Roth officially made the match a rout with her second goal of the game in the 83rd minute, using a nice assist from junior midfielder Amanda McMahon to push the score to 3-0.
Freshman goalkeeper Karli Kopietz registered the second shutout of her young career, stopping three SMS shots to improve to 2-1 on the season. It was Minnesota's second consecutive shutout after defeating Montana 1-0 last weekend. The last time the Golden Gophers blanked two consecutive opponents was in Oct. 8 & 13, 2000, against Indiana (1-0) and Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1-0).
For the game, Minnesota out-shot the Bears 34-7 and fired 14 shots on net to SMS's five. It was the first time since a 5-1 win over Iowa at home on Sept. 15, 2000 that Minnesota has scored three or more goals in a match. The last time the Golden Gophers had consecutive victories were on Sept 1 & 3, 2000 in 1-0 wins over 19th-ranked Kentucky and Iowa State. The Maroon and Gold is now 7-2-1 in home openers and 3-1 in openers at Elizbeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
Minnesota battles Colorado Sunday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m. at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
