University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Fall To Marquette, 1-0
9/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Milwaukee, Wis. - In the second match of their weekend trip to Milwaukee, Wis. the University of Minnesota soccer team met up with a Marquette team coming off wins in four of their last five matches. After the two teams played scoreless into halftime, the Golden Eagles scored early in the second half to provide the difference as the Golden Gophers fell by the 1-0 final.
"I thought it was a very evenly played match," head coach Mikki Denney Wright said. "It was just going to come down to whoever could finish, and hats off to Marquette, they finished a great chance."
The first opportunity of the second half for either team came just two minutes in, when Minnesota had the first of their two consecutive corner kicks. Off the second corner kick, Julie Rezac (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was able to get off a shot, but her attempt went wide.
Then, not 30 seconds after the Rezac shot, Marquette's Becky Ryan managed to find the back of the net from about 15 yards out. The Golden Eagle defense was stout for the remainder of the match, and was able to hold the Golden Gophers without a shot the rest of the way.
Minnesota was outshot 7-to-1 in the second half, in a reversal of fortunes from the first half. The Golden Gophers held the edge in shots early, taking an 8-to-5 lead in the category into halftime. Four of Minnesota's first half shots landed on net as well, compared to just one in the period for Marquette.
Rezac and Molly Rouse (Cambridge, Minn.) led the way offensively for the Golden Gophers with three shots each, while Cat Parkhill (Apple Valley, Minn.) paced the defense with four saves. Katie Bethke (Eau Claire, Wis.) added two shots on the day, landing each on goal in the first half.
"This team keeps getting better," Denney Wright added. "We wanted to challenge our self, and came here and played in a tough environment, and we grew because of it."
The loss snaps the Golden Gophers four-match unbeaten streak and drops their season record to 4-2-1. Marquette meanwhile improves to 5-1-0 in their last six matches, after a season opening loss. On the season they are 5-2-0.
Next for the Golden Gophers is the Minnesota Gold Classic at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on Sept. 18 and 20. Minnesota welcomes Montana, Nevada and North Dakota all to the classic, and will host Nevada and Montana on Sept. 18 and 20 respectively.
