University of Minnesota Athletics
Soccer Blanks Western Illinois 3-0 on Friday night
9/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
- Box Score/Play-by-play
The Golden Gopher women's soccer team recorded its second straight shutout with a 3-0 victory against Western Illinois (0-4-0) on Friday night at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. Minnesota improves to 3-1-1 on the season and will open Big Ten play next weekend.
Following a scoreless 30 minutes to start the match, the Golden Gophers broke through with three goals in a span of 13:43.
Sophomore Kaitlin Neary's shot from just outside the right post deflected off a Westerwind defender and past WIU goaltender Carey Cowhey at 30:40. Freshman Haley Lentsch picked up the assist on the play and extended her consecutive point streak to five matches.
Senior Anna Nudell Lee followed with her first career goal as a Golden Gopher with a whirling kick from 20 yards out that found the top right corner of the goal.
Fellow senior Amanda McMahon closed out the scoring barrage with a shot from 20 yards out that beat Cowhey to her right with less than a minute to play in the half.
The two teams played a scoreless second half, but the game belonged to the Golden Gophers. Minnesota blistered Western Illinois with 33 shots, including 16 on goal. Western Illinois managed just three shots on goal on four attempts.
Sophomore goalkeeper Karli Kopietz made her fifth consecutive start and combined with junior Marni Prall to record the shutout.
With the win, Minnesota runs its unbeaten streak at home against non-conference opponents to nine matches with an 8-0-1 record.
Minnesota hosts Purdue next Friday night at 7 p.m. to open conference play. The Golden Gophers will then face Indiana on Sunday at 1 p.m.
