University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Freshman Snatches Two Weekly Big Ten Honors
10/31/2011 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 31, 2011
After scoring the 12th hat trick in school history and the second of her career, freshman Taylor Uhl snatches a pair of Big Ten Conference honors by being named Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week.
The Eden Prairie, Minn. native receives the honors after posting her second hat trick of the season and only the 12th in school history in Friday night's 6-3 victory over Nebraska. She accompanied her trifecta of scores by notching an assist to increase her game point total to seven, which ties her Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium single game point and goals record that she set back on August 21 against South Dakota State. Uhl is only the fourth Gopher to tally two hat tricks during their career, and she is just now finishing up her freshman campaign.
All season, Uhl has been working her way through the Minnesota freshman record books, and on Friday, she cracked into the Gophers all-time single season record books. The points acquired in Friday's match boosts her total to 30 points on the season, which is the third most by a freshman in Minnesota history and tied for 10th most by any Minnesota player in a single season. Her 13 goals on the season places her second all-time for a freshman behind Jennifer Walek (22 goals, 1993) and tied for eighth all-time with Gretchen Brandt (1995) in a single season by any Golden Gopher.
Uhl is only the fourth Minnesota player to receive the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week accolade since the conference began designating offensive and defensive award winners in 2001. The last Gopher to acquire the honor was Molly Rouse, who garnered it last season on August 6. Uhl is also the only freshman this year to be tagged Offensive Player of the Week by the conference.
This week, she repeats as Freshman of the Week after notching four points two weeks ago to receive the honor. It is Uhl's third time getting the award this season, which is ties her for the most by a freshman this season with Wisconsin's Cara Walls.
Behind Uhl's three goals this past Friday, the Maroon and Gold earned the fifth seed in the Big Ten Tournament with the 6-3 triumph over Nebraska. They will face Wisconsin on Wednesday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Evanston, Ill. The two longtime rivals faceoff once again this season after drawing 2-2 back on September 29 in Madison, Wis.
