University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Gain ROUSEing 4-0 Win
9/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
St. Paul, Minn. - Molly Rouse's (Cambridge, Minn.) two goals led the University of Minnesota soccer team back into the win column today (Sept. 6), with a convincing 4-0 win over visiting North Dakota State at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
Rouse notched the first multi-goal match of her career this afternoon, with scores in each the first and second halves. Her goals stood as insurance, however, to a lead that was started by senior Sara Clancy (Cedar Rapids, Iowa).
Late in the first half, the Golden Gophers Katie Shelander (Roseville, Minn.) nearly broke loose inside the Bison penalty box, but was tripped up by the defender chasing her. Shelander drew the foul, giving the Golden Gophers a penalty kick at the 42:55 mark of the opening period. Clancy was called upon to take the kick, and did not disappoint, sneaking the ball inside the left side post and past the diving goalkeeper.
The goal was the first of the season for Clancy, and the second game-winner of her career.
Less than a minute after Clancy got the Golden Gophers on the board, Rouse knocked in her first of the day. Taking a deflection off a Bison defender, she uncorked a shot from about 25 yards out that the goalkeeper just could not catch up with. Less than a minute later at the 43:38 mark, Minnesota was up 2-0.
As they did in the first half, the two goals in the second half came just minutes apart. First it was Rouse tacking on her second of the day, this time with an assist from Angie Olson (Eagan, Minn.) at the 63:25 mark. Then, at 70:43, Katie Bethke (Eau Claire, Wis.) scored her team leading third goal of the season off a great crossing pass from Marissa Price (Apple Valley, Minn.).
"The first one, it happened so quickly I don't think anybody really knew what was going on," Rouse said of the first of her two goals. "They just threw the ball in, I took a touch and shot it, and I don't think anybody was ready because it happened so quickly. The second one, Angela Olson go the ball on the outside, she slipped it back and I finished near post."
This is the second 4-0 victory for the Golden Gophers this season, as they opened the season with a 4-0 win over South Dakota State. Minnesota dominated the match from the start, outshooting North Dakota State 10-to-1 in the first half, and holding a 22-to-4 advantage for the match. The Golden Gophers also held an 11-to-1 advantage in shots on goal, which ties the Kennesaw State match as their best performance of the season.
Gaining assists in the match, Olson and Price earned their first of the season, with Price's marking the first assist, and point, of her career. In goal, Cat Parkhill (Apple Valley, Minn.) collected her third consecutive shutout and her fourth on the season. Parkhill and the Golden Gophers have held four of their five opponents without a goal.
Minnesota remains unbeaten at Robbie Stadium in their last 15 matches, holding a 14-0-1 mark over that span. They will have to hit the road to extend their current three-match unbeaten streak on the season, though. Next weekend they travel to Milwaukee, Wis. to take on Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 respectively.
Minnesota will enter next weekend with a 3-1-1 record
