University of Minnesota Athletics
Soccer Hosts Penn State, Ohio State
10/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Rock the Robbie Weekend
It is Rock the Robbie Weekend at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium, as Minnesota welcomes Penn State and Ohio State. The Gophers will be looking for an attendance record when they host the Nittany Lions at 7:00 p.m. on Oct. 16, in a match-up of last year's Big Ten Champions. Things stay tough as the Gophers then host the No. 19 Buckeyes on Oct. 18 at 1:00 p.m.
The Records
After their win last week, the Gophers enter the weekend in first place in the Big Ten with a 3-0-1 conference mark and a 10-2-2 record overall. Penn State will bring with them a 7-5-1 overall record and a 3-1-0 mark in the Big Ten, while Ohio State holds an identical 3-1-0 mark in Big Ten play and joins Minnesota as the only 10-win teams at 10-2-1 overall.
The Series
Penn State has a strong grip on the lead in the all-time series, winning 15-of-18 match-ups since 1994. However, the last time Penn State came to Robbie Stadium, in 2007, Minnesota earned a 1-0 double overtime win. The series with Ohio State is much more even, with the Minnesota leading 9-8-1 since 1993. Much of the Gophers' wins came early, as Minnesota's win last year snapped a six-game Ohio State winning streak in the series
Last Match-Up
The Gophers and Nittany Lions last played in the Championship game of the 2008 Big Ten Tournament, with Penn State giving Minnesota just their third loss of the season with the 2-1 win. The Gophers traveled to Columbus last season, beating the Buckeyes 2-0 for the first time since 2001.
Follow Along
Fans that can't make it to the stadium can still follow along from home. There will be live stats available for each match, and live video available in Gold Zone for the Ohio State match (weather permitting). To access each, just visit GopherSports.com and click Multimedia.
Last Time Out
In their only game last week, the Gophers pulled the upset, going on the road and knocking off No. 9 ranked Purdue, 1-0. The win moved the Gophers into first place in the Big Ten standings.
Next Up
After their home stint, the Gophers get back on the road for their final road trip of the season. Minnesota heads east to take on Michigan on Oct. 23, and Michigan State on Oct. 25.
Scouting Penn State
- Currently 7-5-1 riding three straight wins, the last two by shutout
- 0-2-1 on the road in 2009
- 8-2-0 in the Big Ten in 2008 to share the Championship with Minnesota
- 11-time defending Big Ten Champions
- Led by third year head coach Erica Walsh who entered the year with a 34-12-2 record
- Beat Minnesota for the 2008 Big Ten Tournament title, also won in 1998, 2000, 01, 06, 08
- Have beaten two ranked teams this season
- Defense has pitched six shutouts
- Three players have 5+ goals and 14+ points
- In conference games only, leads in points with 27 and 6.75 per game, in goals with 10 and 2.5 per game, and assists with seven and 1.75 per game
- Katie Schoepfer, Christine Nairn, and Danielle Toney are one, three and four respectively in the Big Ten in points per game (in conf. games)
- Alyssa Naeher is second in save% (.833)
Scouting Ohio State
- Currently 10-2-1, winning their last two
- Ranked #15 in the NSCAA Top-25 Poll
- 9-1-0 since starting the season 1-1-1
- 2-1-1 on the road and 0-1-0 on the road in the Big Ten
- Big Ten leader with nine shutouts
- Beat top-25 teams back-to-back with wins over #12 San Diego (3-0) on 9/4 and over #24 USC (1-0) on 9/6
- Tied #14 West Virginia 0-0 on 8/23
- Big Ten Tournament Champions in 2002, and 2004
- Two players with 5+ goals and 10+ points
- Lauren Robertson has a GAA of just 0.60
- Out-scoring opponents 26-to-8, including 16-to-4 in the second half
- Third in the Big Ten in points (18) and goals (6)
- Tied for the Big Ten lead with two shutouts in league play
- Lauren Granberg is fifth in the league in point s (5) and Ashley Bowyer is fourth in goals (2) (conference games)
