University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host Maroon and Gold Game
8/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
The University of Minnesota women's soccer team hosted its annual Maroon and Gold game on Wednesday night, pitting the Gophers against each other in an inter-squad match that ended in a 2-2 tie with the maroon team winning on penalty kicks.
A blank sheet in the first half was highlighted by one prime attempt by each team late in the period. Senior forward Katie Shelander's header attempt in the 35th minute was just off from giving the maroon team a first half lead, while junior goalkeeper Katie Roberts kept the score locked at 0-0 just two minutes later when she turned away an attack from the gold team.
The moratorium on goals would not last the second period though as both teams came alive early in the second half; each trading a pair of goals in the second stanza of regulation including goals from senior Molly Rouse for the maroon team and a pair from newcomer Steph Brandt for the gold team. When regulation ended with the game still knotted at 2-2, head coach Mikki Denney Wright sent the game straight to penalty kicks. After both teams converted four of their five attempts, sophomore midfielder Olivia Bagnall tallied the game winner with her first attempt.
The Maroon and Gold game and family barbeque is held annually by the Minnesota women's soccer program at the start of each season. The Gophers opened preseason practice on Wednesday morning with fitness and technical testing before holding their first practice this afternoon.
Minnesota opens the 2010 season on the road against Notre Dame on Aug. 20.
