University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Soccer Opens Season Against Maryland
8/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 17, 2011
The wait for the 2011 season is over for head coach Mikki Denney Wright and her No. 22-ranked squad as they travel to College Park, Md. on Friday to face the No. 6-ranked Maryland for its season opener at Ludwig Field. The Golden Gophers begin its season on the road for the second-straight year after facing the 2010 National Champion Notre Dame on its home turf.
The Gophers are coming off one of its best seasons to date after they reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the program's now 19-year history. Denney Wright and company had its storybook season come to an end on its home field when Georgetown scored a late goal to win 1-0. Minnesota finished the 2010 season with a record of 14-6-3 and ranked 16th in the final national polls.
The Golden Gophers bring back six starters from last year's team, and it enters 2011 ranked No. 22 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll, which makes it only the fourth time in program history that Minnesota is ranked in a preseason poll. Dating back to last year, Minnesota has now at least received votes to be in the Top 25 for 12-weeks straight.
After losing seven seniors from last season, this year's squad looks to showcase some new faces, but the Gophers will be lead by a pair of seniors in Shari Eckstrom and Josie Solie, as well as, redshirt-junior goalkeeper Cat Parkhill.
Scouting Maryland
Maryland is coming off one of its program's best seasons where it finished ranked in the nation's Top 10 and reached the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season. The Terrapins had its postseason run halted by Georgetown in the second round after losing on penalty kicks.
Maryland returns eight starters from last year's battle-tested squad, and it enters the season ranked No. 6 in the NSCAA preseason poll, which is its highest preseason ranking the program has ever received. The Terps are coached by Brian Pensley, who was honored last season as the Soccer America National Coach of the Year for posting an 18-2-3 record. Pensley and his team showcased one of the nation's top scoring offenses last season where the Terrapins averaged 2.30 goals per game, which ranked them 12th in the nation.
In Maryland's 24-year history, it has tallied a record of 14-8-2 in its season openers. The Terps have won their last seven season openers with its last loss coming in a 2-1 double overtime loss to Washington in 2003. Not only will the Golden Gophers look to snap the season opener streak, but Minnesota will try to snap a 14-match home unbeaten streak that Maryland carries into Friday's clash.
The Terps have one of the nation's top players in Jasmyne Spencer. The senior forward has been named to the watch list for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, which is the most prestigious award in women's collegiate soccer. Last season, Spencer notched a team high 10 points and finished second in total points with 25.
The Season Opener
The Gophers open up the 2011 campaign against the Maryland Terrapins at Ludwig Field in College, Park, Md. on Friday, August 19 at 6 p.m. (CST).
The Series
Friday will mark the first ever meeting on the pitch between the Gopher and the Terps. Both programs look to begin the 2011 season on the right foot after each got eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Georgetown.
Traveling the Atlantic
Minnesota has an all-time record of 2-2 versus all Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) schools.
Trouble with the Top 10
In the Gophers 19-year history, it has not fared well against teams ranked in the Top 10. They have gone 3-25 all time versus the nation's best. Last season, Minnesota went 1-1 versus teams in the Top 10 (lost to Notre Dame and beat Texas A&M).
Big Ten Preseason Poll
1. Penn State
2. Ohio State
3. Wisconsin
4. Illinois
5. Michigan
6. Michigan State
7. Nebraska
8. Minnesota
9. Purdue
10. Northwestern
11. Indiana
12. Iowa
New Faces
Minnesota showcases seven incoming freshman this season in Taylor Uhl, Brianne Price, Karalyn Leetz, Katie Thyken, Becca Roberts, Taylor Wodnick and Sheridan Reiners. The Gophers also welcome St. Cloud State senior transfer Alex Pafko.
Return to the Robbie
The Golden Gophers home opener is set for Sunday, August 21 versus South Dakota State. The match will begin at 1 p.m., and all fans that follow the team on Facebook or Twitter will receive free admission into the game.
Follow the Action
Follow Friday's match against Maryland with .
Facebook/Twitter
For the latest and most updated information on Minnesota soccer, check out the team on Facebook (Golden Gopher Soccer) and Twitter (@GopherSoccer).
