Minnesota to Battle Purdue, Indiana

University of Minnesota at Purdue University and Indiana University
Date/Time	Friday, Sept. 26 - 6 p.m. CT // Sunday, Sept. 28 - 11 a.m. CT
Location	West Lafeyette, Ind. // Bloomington, Ind.
Live Stats	//
Live Updates	@GopherSoccer
Live Video	BTN Plus ($)

Social Media	@GopherSoccer \| Facebook

Sept. 24, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - To conclude a month on the road, the University of Minnesota women's soccer team will travel to Purdue University and Indiana University for a weekend of Big Ten competition. The Gophers, who fell to Big Ten foe Iowa on Saturday evening, will seek victories in order to improve their 4-5-0 overall record and 1-2-0 conference record. Minnesota will kick off their weekend schedule with a match against the Boilermakers at 6:00 p.m. CT from West Layette, Ind. before heading to Bloomington, Ind. for an 11:00 a.m. meeting with Indiana University at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT

The Maroon and Gold hosted Big Ten foe, Iowa, on Saturday evening. Despite a late start due to severe weather in the area, the Gophers put together their best game of the season with 22 shots from nine different Gophers. Senior Katie Thyken led the charge with six shots while junior Haley Helverson had two shots on goal. Even when they put their best game of the year on the field, the Gophers were unable to overtake the Hawkeyes as Amanda Lulek scored her first career goal in the 33rd minute in order to put Iowa on top.

The Hawkeyes broke a four game draw streak between the two teams but Minnesota continues to lead the series, 10-4-4.

THE OPPONENTS

Minnesota will meet with Purdue University on Friday evening at 6 p.m. CT. The Gophers make their third trip to West Layette in just as many years as they look to defeat the Boilermakers on the road. Purdue enters the match after splitting last weekend with a win in overtime versus Northwestern and a 3-0 loss to Illinois. Both games were on the road. Purdue picked up a victory over Ohio State after dropping their conference opener to Penn State for a 2-2 conference record thus far.

The road team has taken the victory in the last four meetings between the Gophers and Boilermakers with Minnesota winning last season, 2-1. The Gophers lead the all-time series 9-8-0.

After meeting the Boilermakers on Friday evening, the Gophers will travel to Bloomington, Ind. to take on the Hoosiers. Indiana also split last weekend winning over Northwestern and dropping to Illinois. The Hoosiers are 5-5-0 overall and 1-3-0 in conference play. The Gophers lead the all-time series 13-10-1 with their last meeting ending in a 1-0 Indiana victory.

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 37 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.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

The Gophers close a month on the road with their two games on the weekend. The Gophers have lost three of their four games on the road in September but look to sweep the weekend to close out their road season with two victories.

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 Purdue and Indiana. 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

Katie Thyken

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