University of Minnesota Athletics
Kallman, Brandt Lead Gophers at Spring Challenge
4/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
St. Paul, Minn. - The University of Minnesota soccer team hosted the Big Ten/Big 12 Spring Challenge today (Apr. 24), welcoming Iowa, Iowa State and Kansas to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium for four games. The Gophers started their day with a 2-0 win over the Kansas Jayhawks, and then closed the afternoon with a 1-0 win over the Iowa State Cyclones for a perfect day to cap the 2010 spring season.
Minnesota was the only team to go 2-0 on the day, with Iowa going 1-0-1, Kansas posting a 0-1-1 mark, and Iowa State going 0-2. Iowa won 1-0 over Iowa State, but finished with a shootout loss to Kansas, tying 1-1 in regulation, but falling 4-2 in the shootout. With their 2-0 day, the Gophers finished as Champions of The Big Ten / Big 12 Spring Challenge.
The Gophers scored just 33 seconds apart for the 2-0 win over Kansas to start their day. After a scoreless first 20 minutes, Molly Rouse (Cambridge, Minn.) started the scoring with a goal at the 22:34 mark off an assist from Angie Olson (Eagan, Minn.). Rouse's score would go on to stand as the game-winner.
Less than a minute later it was redshirt freshman Steph Brandt (Rochester, Minn.) adding the insurance with a goal on an assist from Tamara Strahota (Burnsville, Minn.) to make it 2-0. Up by two scores at the 23:07 mark, that would be all the scoring for the rest of the game.
Cat Parkhill (Apple Valley, Minn.) stopped the only shot she saw as she and the Gopher defense pitched the shutout. In a dominating effort buy the hosts, the Gophers limited the Jayhawks to just three total shots on the day and only one on goal, while firing off 19 of their own.
Minnesota put 11 of their shots on goal, led by Brandt who logged three shots on goal in the game off of four total shots. Rouse put up a game high five total shots on the day, landing two on net. Katie Shelander (Roseville, Minn.) took three shots in the match, with each going on frame.
After break, the Gophers came back with another impressive effort in the 1-0 win over Iowa State. The lone goal of the game came at the 31:12 mark from Brandt. Assisted by Olivia Bagnall (Lakeville, Minn.), Brandt made good on her only attempt of the game.
Minnesota outshot Iowa State five-to-three in the game, with each team notching two shots on goal. Earning the game-two start between the pipes, Katie Roberts (Apple Valley, Minn.) stopped both Cyclone shots that made it to her, earning the win and the shutout.
The Gophers were the only team to tally two shutouts in the Spring Challenge, and were led on the backline by Kylie Kallman, as the defense limited the opponent opportunities all day. For her efforts Kallman was named the Defensive MVP of the Spring Challenge.
The only player to score two goals, as well as the Gophers' leader in shots, Brandt earned offensive MVP honors in the four-team challenge.
Rouse and Olson were each also named to the All-Tournament team in leading the Gophers to two wins. Minnesota led the way with four honorees on the All-Tournament team.
The Big Ten / Big 12 Spring Challenge concludes the spring season for the Golden Gophers, as they build toward the 2010 season. Minnesota ended the 2009 season with a 12-5-3 record, and placed fourth in the Big Ten with a 5-3-2 mark. The Gophers return all 11 starters in 2010, and will boast a line-up featuring seven seniors.
Final Standings
Minnesota - 6 pts
Iowa - 4 pts
Kansas - 2 pts
Iowa State - 0 pts
(teams are awarded three points for a win, two points for a shootout win, and one point for a shootout loss)
All-Tournament Team
Goalkeeper
Emily Moran, Iowa
Forwards
Steph Brandt, Minnesota - Offensive MVP
Keli McLaughlin, Iowa
Midfielders
Angie Olson, Minnesota
Jordyn Perdue, Kansas
Molly Rouse, Minnesota
Morgan Showalter, Iowa
Laura Wooster, Iowa State
Defenders
Kylie Kallman, Minnesota - Defensive MVP
Mary Kate McLaughlin, Iowa State
Katie Williams, Kansas
