University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Look to Rebound this Weekend at Illinois and Iowa
10/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
After a tough start to the Big Ten season, the Golden Gopher soccer team hopes to turn things around this weekend.
Road Trippin’
The Golden Gophers begin their longest stretch away from Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium this weekend. Minnesota will play four straight road matches, beginning with No. 10 Illinois on Friday night at 7 p.m. The Gophers will then face border-rival Iowa on Sunday at 1 p.m. Minnesota’s next home game is not until Oct. 20 against Michigan.
About Illinois
Illinois currently sits in second place in the Big Ten Conference and is ranked No. 10 in the nation according to the latest NSCAA/adidas poll. UI is undefeated through its first three league matches and is coming off a 3-2 upset of perennial powerhouse Penn State.
Illinois is one of the best attacking teams in the conference, ranking third in goals and assists and fourth in total points. Chichi Nweke and Ella Masar both rank in the top-10 in the league in scoring.
The Series vs. Illinois
Minnesota defeated Illinois for the first time in four years last season with a 2-1 victory on Oct. 9 at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. The victory propelled the Gophers to their first Big Ten Tournament appearance since 2000, where they met UI for the second time of the season. Minnesota battled, but in the end Illinois got its revenge with a 1-0 victory.
Illinois holds a 6-4-0 all-time series lead over the Gophers, including a 3-1 record on its home turf.
About Iowa
Ron Rainey is in his first season as Iowa’s head coach and has instilled a new attitude in the Hawkeyes. Iowa has already surpassed its win total from a year ago with five victories in its first 12 games. However, like the Gophers, the Hawkeyes have yet to claim a Big Ten Conference victory.
Like Minnesota, Iowa has also struggled to find the back of the net as of late, as they are scoreless in the last five games entering this weekend.
The Series vs. Iowa
Minnesota holds a 6-2-1 advantage in the all-time series and has won each of the last two contests over the Hawkeyes by identical 1-0 margins. The Gophers have beaten Iowa three out of four times in Iowa City.
Border Battle
For the second week in a row, Minnesota will play a rival from a neighboring state. The Gophers have had the upper hand against border rivals Iowa and Wisconsin over the last couple of seasons. Minnesota won a combined four consecutive matches over the Hawkeyes and Badgers prior to its 5-1 loss to UW last Sunday.
Rank and File
Illinois will be the second ranked opponent Minnesota has faced this year and the highest ranked opponent it has faced since hosting top-ranked Penn State last season. While it has been over six years since the Maroon and Gold has defeated a ranked opponent, the Golden Gophers have brought their best game against the best teams in recent times. The last two times Minnesota has faced a ranked team, (No. 1 Penn State, 10/28/05 and No. 25 Purdue, 9/24/06), the Golden Gophers have battled to narrow 1-0 losses in overtime.
Quick Strike
Kaitlin Wagner recorded the seventh-quickest goal in school history last Sunday against Wisconsin, scoring 2:26 into the game. It was Minnesota’s quickest goal in a match since Nicole Lee scored 2:06 in against Illinois on October 18, 1998.
