Gophers Return to the Robbie

University of Minnesota hosts No. 7 Penn State University and Ohio State University
Date/Time	Friday, Oct. 3, 2014 at 7 p.m. // Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.
Location	Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
Live Stats	No. 7 Penn State // Ohio State
Live Updates	@GopherSoccer
Live Video	BTN Plus ($)
Official Websites	No. 7 Penn State // Ohio State
Social Media	@GopherSoccer \| Facebook

October 2, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Following a sweep of Purdue and Indiana on the road, the University of Minnesota women's soccer team returns to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium to host No. 7 Penn State University and Ohio State University. The matches mark the first two game homestand for the Maroon and Gold, who spent the majority of September on the road. The weekend begins when the Gophers host No. 7 Penn State on Friday at 7 p.m. before the Ohio State Buckeyes make their way to the Robbie on Sunday afternoon for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

LAST TIME OUT

The Maroon and Gold earned their first sweep on the road of the season when they defeated both Purdue and Indiana last weekend. On Friday evening, sophomore Simone Kolander scored her fifth goal of the season in the 75th minute of play to help the Gophers earn their fifth shutout of the season. Minnesota tallied 10 shots on the evening including a half-volley from Ashley Pafko in the 25th minute of play that served as a jumpstart for the Gophers offense.

On Sunday afternoon, the Gophers fell behind early as Kayla Smith notched her second goal of the season in the 7th minute to put the Hoosiers on the board. Minnesota trailed Indiana for nearly 70 minutes before Pafko stepped up and scored the equalizer in the 75th minute. Senior Olivia Schultz would surface as the hero when she found the back of the net off a scramble in the box to notch the golden goal and lift the Gophers over Indiana.

THE OPPONENTS

Minnesota will host No. 7-ranked Penn State University on Friday evening at the Robbie. Last weekend, the Nittany Lions secured their spot at the top of the conference with a win over Illinois University, 2-1. Before defeating the Illini, Penn State scored four goals to topple Northwestern.

This is not the first time the Gophers have met Penn State with an unblemished conference record. Last season, Minnesota shutout Penn State handing them their first conference loss of the season. Haley Helverson scored the lone goal of the match in the 17th minute of play and Tarah Hobbs tallied 7 saves on the match. Penn State leads the all-time series, 20-4-0.

On Sunday afternoon, the Gophers will square off against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State fell to Illinois, 4-1, before defeating Northwestern on Sunday evening. The Buckeyes hold an 11-9-3 lead in the all-time series with the last meeting between the two teams ending in a draw last season.

DEFENDER ON THE RISE
After an incredible weekend for the Maroon and Gold, sophomore defender Ashley Pafko was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Pafko scored the equalizer to keep the Gophers in the match against Indiana while ancoring the restraining line that faced 18 combined shots allowing just one goal on the weekend.

Pafko has two goals and two assists this season and has started each of the Gophers eleven games this season.

TRAVEL ADVISORY
Fans traveling to the University of Minnesota campus for Gopher men's and women's hockey, soccer and softball this weekend should be aware of road closures in northeast Minneapolis. For the full listing, please read the travel advisory here.

THE FACES OF GOPHER ATHLETICS
Junior Haley Helverson and head coach Stefanie Golan are featured in the latest edition of Ski-U-Mah. To view the full magazine, feauting student-athletes and coaches at the University of Minnesota, please view it online.

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP

The sophomore class has stepped up in more ways than one for this young Gopher team. With the scoring ability of Simone Kolander, Josee Stiever in the midfield, Ashley Pafko and Rashida Beal holding down the back line and Tarah Hobbs in goal, the sophomore class is leading the team to new heights. Stiever proved this as she and Pafko teamed up to win the game for the Maroon and Gold on Sunday. The sophomore class that boasts 5 starters and accounts for nearly half of the Gophers 50 points will be a forced to be reckoned with in the coming months and years.

GOALKEEPER GLORY

Sophomores Tarah Hobbs and Mara Dougherty have made quite the pair in goal this year for the Maroon and Gold. Hobbs, the reigning Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, has 40 saves on the season. Hobbs has started eight of the Gophers nine games while Mara Dougherty stepped in and played one match for Minnesota this season tallying 4 saves against Auburn.

DEFENDING THE ROBBIE

The Gophers have only played three of their eleven games at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium this season. Minnesota will return to the Robbie in hopes of defending their home field when they host Penn State and Ohio State this weekend.

TUNING IN

Live stats for both games will be available via the University of Minnesota Game Day Central page. The game will be available for viewing via BTN + digital platform live from Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. Fans who cannot watch online or attend the matches are encouraged to follow the Gophers on Twitter for live game updates (@GopherSoccer).

FRESH FACES

Thee nine freshman that were added to the 2014 roster have proved to be a tremendous addition. Squires and Rachel McCloskey have started each of the 4 matches for the Maroon and Gold, combining for five of the Gophers 14 goals. Seven of the nine freshman have seen playing time in a regular season game and four have contributed to the Gophers 42 points including Squires, McCloskey, Hannah Holm and Juliana Gernes.

THE NOTORIOUS B1G

The Big Ten Conference announced its 2014 Preseason Coaches' Poll last week with the Gophers picked to finish eleventh in the conference behind new members Maryland and Rutgers who will both make their way to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium in October. Penn State was picked to top the conference after finishing last season with a 7-4 conference record. One of their four losses came at the hands of the Gophers.

With the announcement of the preseason coaches' poll, the 2014 players to watch list was also revealed. It was no surprise that 2013 Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, Tarah Hobbs, was named among midfielders Josee Stiever and Katie. Last season, Thyken led the charge in terms of scoring with a career high tying 7 goals.

In 2013, a Big Ten Conference record eight teams earned NCAA Tournament berths including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State and Ohio State while Iowa made their first ever post season run.

2013 RECAP

Minnesota posted an 11-8-2 record last season while collecting four conferences wins in Stefanie Golan's second year as head coach of the Maroon and Gold. Wins and loses do not tell the entire story for the Gophers last season as they defeated then No. 7 Penn State, No. 17 Michigan and Wisconsin to punch their ticket into the first round of the NCAA Tournament. A first round loss to Texas Tech on their home pitch sent the Gophers home after reaching the tournament for the first time since 2010 when Minnesota reached the Sweet Sixteen.

NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES

Minnesota has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances in its history including a string of five postseason runs from 1995-99. During the programs third year of existence, the Golden Gophers made their first appearance in the 1995 and again in 1996 before reaching the second round three-consecutive times in 1997-99. The Gophers made their first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2008 and then advanced to the Sweet 16 again in 2010. Last season's first round appearance marked Coach Golan's first tournament berth with the Maroon and Gold.

LEADING THE WAY

Minnesota announced last week that seniors Becca Roberts and Olivia Schultz and junior Haley Helverson will join Katie as captains for the 2014 season.

THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM

Stefanie Golan is entering her third season as the Gophers head coach with an overall record of 27-18-4 over the past three seasons. The Maroon and Gold return associate head coach and former Gopher defender Krystle Seidel as well as assistant coach Deana Waintraub-Stafford. New to the staff are MacKenzie Misel who will serve as volunteer assistant coach and Tam Strahota as director of soccer operations. Both new hires are former Gopher standouts.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Are you following the Gophers on the road or from home? Make sure to follow @GopherSoccer on Twitter and use the hashtag #GiveEverything. You can also check for updates on Facebook and Instagram by "Liking" Golden Gopher Soccer on Facebook or following the Gophers on Instagram.

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Players Mentioned

Rashida Beal

Mara Dougherty

Haley Helverson

Tarah Hobbs

Hannah Holm

Simone Kolander

Rachel McCloskey

MacKenzie Misel

Ashley Pafko

Becca Roberts

Olivia Schultz

Josee Stiever

Upcoming Events

University of Minnesota Athletics