University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set to Battle Purdue on BTN
10/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
The No. 16 Minnesota women's soccer team returns to action this Sunday with a conference matchup against Purdue. The game, which was changed to a 2:05 p.m. CST start time, will be broadcast live by the Big Ten Network.
Last Time Out
Minnesota dropped slightly in the NSCAA/Hendrickscars.com National Rankings to No. 16 after dropping just its second game of the season last Thursday to Wisconsin 1-0. The Gophers had several solid chances to equalize the game against the Badgers but couldn't capitalize on their opportunities - snapping the second-longest unbeaten streak in program history. Purdue, meanwhile, saw a 1-0-1 start to Big Ten play go belly up last weekend in a 4-1 loss at Illinois and a 2-0 shutout loss at Michigan State.
The Series
Sunday's game between the Boilermakers and the Gophers marks the 14th meeting of the two teams with Purdue holding a 7-6 record all time against Minnesota. The Gophers, however, have come out on top in each of the last three games of the series including a 1-0 upset over the ninth-ranked Boilermakers last year.
Follow the Action
The Big Ten Network will broadcast this Sunday's game live at 2:05 p.m. CST -- the first of two Gophers home games to be televised by the network this season. Fans can also follow the game online at Gophersports.com with a live blog and up-to-the-minute stats.
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Next Up
The Big Ten season continues next weekend for the Gophers, who go back out on the road after three-straight home games. Minnesota travels to Penn State on Friday at 6 p.m. CST before taking on Ohio State on Sunday at noon.
Scouting the Boilermakers
Unlike the Gophers, who will have ten days rest going into Sunday's contest, Purdue hosts Indiana on Thursday for the The Golden Boot. The Boilermakers have a two-game losing streak heading into Thursday's game against the Hoosiers. With 19 goals allowed the season, Purdue rank tenth in the Big Ten in scoring defense -- ahead of only Indiana with 23. The Boilermakers are coached by Robert Klatte (13th year).
Purdue Leaders
Junior midfielder Kellie Phillips leads the Boilermakers with 10 points (4g, 2a) this season while junior forward Katie Leinart is right behind her with eight points (2g, 4a). Senior goalkeeper Carianne Betts has been in net for 13 games this season, making 17 saves and recording two shutouts. Betts has allowed 17 goals against in 2010.
Milestone Watch
Two significant milestones appear on the horizon for the Minnesota women's soccer team. The Gophers currently sit with 197 total wins -- just three wins away from 200. Meanwhile, coach Mikki Denney Wright is just one win short of her 75th win as head coach of the Gophers. Now midway through her seventh season at the helm, Denney Wright has averaged over 10 wins a season since taking over the program in 2004.
Sitting on Top
As a unit, the Golden Gophers sit atop the Big Ten in nearly every offensive category. Minnesota ranks first in the conference in points (83), goals (25), assists (33) and shots (226). Defensively, the Gophers rank fourth in the conference in goals allowed with seven. The team has only allowed four goals in its last 10 games.
Among the Nation's Best
With nine assists this season, senior midfielder Katie Bethke sits in a five-way tie for the second most assists in the NCAA. Silvia Fuentes of Ark.-Pine Bluffs leads the nation with 12 assists this year. Bethke, who leads the Big Ten in the category, is currently one assist short of matching her season best of 10 which she set as a freshman in 2007.
Junior Breakout
Already this season, junior midfielder Shari Eckstrom has doubled her output from her first two seasons with the Maroon and Gold. Eckstrom, who had just ten career points heading into 2010, has already set career highs with five goals and 12 points this season.
Sophomore Stride
Sophomore forward Allie Phillips has already eclipsed the one goal she scored as a freshman in 2009. Phillips has tallied four goals so far this year including a pair of strikes in Minnesota's 7-0 win at Belmont (8/30) and the game winner in the Gophers' 2-0 win over UC-Santa Barbara (9/3).
Home Field Advantage
Last Sunday's 1-0 loss to Wisconsin snapped a six-game winning streak for the Gophers at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium dating back to the 2009 season. The Gophers are 59-29-5 all-time at The Robbie and are 3-1 at home this year. In fact, Minnesota has turned its home venue into one of the toughest stadiums in the nation for visiting teams. The Gophers have lost just three games at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium since the end of the 2007 season.
Functional Freshmen
Despite playing on one of the most experienced teams in the country, Minnesota's freshmen continue to find ways to contribute on the field. Redshirt freshman forward Steph Brandt has tallied seven points on the season (3g, 1a) including two game winners while freshman MacKenzie Misel assisted on both of Minnesota's goals two weeks ago against Iowa and Illinois. Brandt and Misel were back-to-back Big Ten Freshman of the Week award winners in September.
Bethke Moves Up The Record Book
Senior midfielder Katie Bethke continues to climb in the school record book. Bethke's nine assists this season have already jumped her from eighth to second all-time with 28 career assists. Jennifer Walek (1993-97) ranks first in the Gophers book with 42 career assists. Bethke also ranks ninth in school history in career points (72), ninth in goals (22) and eighth in shots (165).
Parkhill Makes Her Mark
Sophomore goalkeeper Cat Parkhill continues to rise up the record book. Parkhill's 21 career wins are the fourth most in Minnesota history, while the keeper also ranks fourth all-time in career shutouts at Minnesota with 14.
Ranked Opponents
The Gophers have faced nationally ranked opponents on four occasions in 2010 -- holding an impressive 3-1-0 record in those games. Minnesota handed No. 15 San Diego a 2-1 loss in the final game of the Minnesota Gold Classic while also posting a 3-1 win at No. 20 South Carolina and a 1-0 win over No. 15/20 Illinois late last month. The Gophers only loss to a ranked team in 2010 came in a season opening 1-0 loss at No. 4 Notre Dame.
In the Tournament
Minnesota just barely missed the NCAA tournament in 2009 but will get plenty of experience against the field this year. The team has ten opponents this season that competed in the 2009 NCAA tournament including Notre Dame, which advanced all the way to the 2009 semifinals before losing to eventual champion North Carolina. The Gophers are 4-2 against NCAA qualifiers so far in 2010 with four of the program's remaining seven games coming against teams that were in the national tournament field last year.
