University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Opens Home Season With Flyers, Grizzlies
9/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Weekend Recap
It was a banner weekend for the Minnesota Golden Gopher soccer team, as Mikki Denney Wright’s squad went a perfect 2-0 in the Dartmouth Tournament in Hanover, N.H. Sept. 7-9. The Gophers defeated Providence College 3-0 on Friday afternoon in the tournament opener, and followed that up with an impressive 4-1 win over host Dartmouth Sunday afternoon to take home the tournament crown. The team’s seven goals on the weekend were the most they had scored in back-to-back contests since 1998.
Gopher Invitational Preview
After spending the first two weekends of their regular season on the road, playing in tournaments in New Hampshire and Tennessee, the Golden Gopher soccer team finally returns home to play in its own tournament, the Gopher Invitational.
Friday’s action begins at 4:30 p.m., with Iowa State playing Montana, followed by the Golden Gophers’ match-up with Dayton at 7 p.m.
The Gophers and Cyclones will swap opponents on Sunday, with Iowa State scheduled to meet Dayton at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Minnesota-Montana match at 1 p.m.
2006 marked the first-ever Gopher Invite, and the host Gophers won both of their games to take the tournament championship. Minnesota defeated Dartmouth (who the Gophers also beat 4-1 last Sunday) 1-0 before topping Northern Colorado in a Sunday match-up 3-1.
Live in the Gold Zone
Sunday’s match against Montana will air with live video in the Gold Zone, the premium content site for Golden Gopher athletics. Join broadcasters C.J. Spang and former Gopher Nicki Burnie as they bring you all the hard-hitting Gopher Soccer action! Click here and get into the Gold Zone today!
Clubbing the Friars
After dropping the first two games of the 2007 regular season in the Lady Vol Classic earlier this month, the Gophers sought to get out on the right foot Friday against the Providence College Friars. That they did, picking up their first win of the 2007 season.
After scoring just one goal in their first two games, the Gophers erupted for three goals during the second half of play Friday. Kailtin Wagner’s first goal of the 2007 season allowed freshman Katie Bethke to notch an assist for the first point of her collegiate career. Bethke would later add a goal, also a career-first.
Statistically, the Gophers dominated nearly every facet of Friday’s game. They outshot the Friars 22-9, including 15-5 in the second half, and also piled up 13 corner kicks to Providence’s three. Ten of Minnesota’s shots came on goal, led by Bethke’s three and Wagner’s two. Kylie Kallman, Clare Grimwood and Lindsey Schwartz also had three shots apiece for the Gophers.
First-timers Take it to the Big Green
After their offensive outburst in the second half on Friday, the Gophers did not let up Sunday against host team Dartmouth.
Three different Gophers notched the first points of their collegiate careers in the 4-1 victory. Lindsey Schwartz and Kaitlin Wagner both scored their second goals of the season, while Julie Rezac and Molly Rouse also contributed goals in the winning effort. Kelly Wepking picked up an assist, the first point of her career.
Five Gophers Take Home Hardware
Five Golden Gopher players were honored at last weekend’s tournament in New Hampshire. Chelsey Turner, Katie Bethke, Lindsey Schwartz, Kailtin Wagner and Hailey McCarthy were all named to the All-Tournament team, while Turner (Goalkeeping MVP) and Wagner (Offensive MVP) earned extra consideration for their performances.
During the tournament, Turner played every minute in goal and allowed just one score, making nine saves. Wagner picked up two goals on the weekend, scoring off a rebound shot from the top of the box on Sunday and a hard shot to the left corner Friday against Providence.
Highly Offensive
Minnesota’s offensive outburst in the Dartmouth Tournament broke new ground for head coach Mikki Denney Wright’s program. The Gophers’ four goals against Dartmouth were the most the team had scored in a regular season in Denney Wright’s tenure with the team. Minnesota beat Buffalo 4-2 on August 29, 2003.
In addition, the team’s seven weekend goals were the most the team had scored in back-to-back contests since Nov. 6 and Nov. 11, 1998. After tying Indian 2-2, the Gophers erupted on Kentucky for six goals in a 6-0 romp. Minnesota finished 14-6-1 overall that season, including 5-4-0 in the Big Ten.
About Dayton
Minnesota’s Friday night opponent, the Dayton Flyers, enters this weekend’s Gopher Invitational with the best record amongst the tournament’s four teams. The Flyers are 3-1 this season with wins over Loyola Marymount, San Diego and Pepperdine. The Flyers finished 8-7-3 last season, fifth in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Under head coach Mike Tucker, Dayton has been one of the premier soccer schools in the region. The Flyers won seven consecutive A-10 championships from 1998 through 2004, making five NCAA Tournament appearances during that span.
This season, the Flyers have been lead by senior goalkeeper Niki Reed. Reed recorded 33 saves in 9 starts a year ago, but has been nothing short of brilliant in 2007. She’s allowed just one goal in 378:06 of action, posting three shutouts. She was named to the SoccerBuzz Elite Team of the Week Sept. 6 for posting back-to-back shutouts.
About Montana
The Grizzlies will be Minnesota’s second opponent of the tournament on Sunday afternoon. Montana went 10-6-1 a year ago, finishing second in the Big West Conference with a 4-2-1 record and making their conference tournament for the ninth time in 10 years.
Despite losing four seniors (who combined to score 18 points), the Grizzlies return a solid core in 2007. Montana lead the conference in corner kicks per game (5.15) and also took 52 more shots than their opponents. They are also sound defensively, leading the league in goals allowed and shutouts. Montanta goalies had to make fewer saves (82) than any other Big West team in 2006.
So far in 2007, the Grizzlies have struggled offensively, scoring two goals in 27 shot attempts. Mahlleace Tomsin is the team’s leading returning scorer from 2006 (seven points) and has one of the team’s two goals this year.
Senior forward Carrie Lee will return to her home state of Minnesota for the first time as a Grizzly. Lee is a native of Minnetonka and attended Hopkins High School.
Around the Big Ten in the Polls
The Penn State Nittany Lions’ second loss of the season caused the 2006 Big Ten Champions to fall from number 15 in the weekly NSCAA/adidas poll down to 20th. Purdue (3-1-1) makes its first appearance in the polls this season, while other Big Ten schools receiving votes are Ohio State, Illinois and Indiana.
Filling the Seats
Friday is Student Night under the lights at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. Friday’s festivities begin at 5:45 at ELR Stadium with free pizza and free admission for University of Minnesota students that show their U’ cards. Fans that come out early can hear Cole Premo and the Kevin Ham Band play live beginning at 5:45.
