University of Minnesota Athletics
Cat Parkhill Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
9/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Park Ridge, Ill. - University of Minnesota Soccer freshman goalkeeper Cat Parkhill was named Big Ten Co-freshman of the Week today (Sept. 7), announced by the league office. She shares the honor with Niki Read, a forward from Illinois.
The Apple Valley, Minn. native has been the Golden Gophers' starter in the net in every match this season, allowing just two goals on the 2009 campaign. This past weekend was her best yet, as she tallied flawless weekend in not allowing a goal, and led the Golden Gophers to a pair of shutouts.
Parkhill played all 110:00 minutes against Tennessee on Sept. 4, shutting out the Volunteers to earn the 0-0 tie. After not seeing a shot in the first half, she made two big saves in the second to keep Minnesota alive and force the extra sessions. In the second overtime, with Tennessee threatening, Parkhill made her third save of the night to preserve the tie. Parkhill's three saves also stand as a career high.
Two days later, Minnesota faced off against North Dakota State and Parkhill again held the opponent off the scoreboard. In earning her second shutout of the weekend, Parkhill stopped the only shot she faced, an attempt in the second half that would have ended the shutout bid.
Parkhill has now earned shutouts in four of the Golden Gophers five matches this season, including the last three. With the tie and win over the last weekend, she helped continue the current record unbeaten streak for the Golden Gophers at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. In their last 15 home matches, Minnesota in 14-0-1.
With an 0.38 goals against average, Parkhill boasts the third best mark in the Big Ten after three weeks of the season, while her four shutouts are tied as the best mark in the league.
Minnesota will be on the road next weekend when they travel to Milwaukee, Wis. for a pair of matches. On Sept. 11 they take on Wisconsin-Milwaukee at 7:00 p.m., and on Sept. 13 they take the field against Marquette at 2:15 p.m. The Panthers are currently 2-1-2 on the season while the Golden Eagles are 3-2-0. Parkhill and the Golden Gophers enter the weekend 3-1-1.
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