University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set for B1G Quarterfinals
10/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - The University of Minnesota women's soccer team will face the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights on Sunday, Nov. 1 at Yurcak Field.
Sunday's match-up will stream live on BTN Plus with Glenn Crooks and Lou Brogno on call.
The Maroon and Gold finished the regular-season at 11-5-3 overall and 6-4-1 in Big Ten play.
The Gophers last collected the conference crown in 1995, 1997 and most recently, 2008.
LAST TIME OUT
In the regular-season home finale last Wednesday, the Gophers hosted Illinois at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
In the first 45-minutes of play, both teams entered the locker rooms knotted at zero.
Illinois got on board first in the 57th-minute off a free kick, bending it around the wall.Six minutes later, Illinois brought the score to 2-0 off converting a penalty kick.
The Gophers escaped a shutout as sophomore Sydney Squires found service from freshman Molly Fiedler.
In the 84th-minute, the Fighting Illini clocked one more, brining the final tally to 3-1, Illinois.
THE OPPONENT
The No. 3 seed Scarlet Knights concluded the regular-season with a 14-2-2 overall record and 7-2-2 in conference play.
The Gophers last met Rutgers on Oct. 23 at Yurcak Field and fell 3-1.
In Rutgers regular-season finale, the team met the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City and collected a 2-0 shutout.
BIG TEN MATCHUPS
As the Gophers face Rutgers in the Big Ten quarterfinals, three other matches will take place to narrow the conference field to four.
The Maroon and Gold are third in most goals in the conference with 32 as well as points with 91 (average 4.79 per match).
The No. 1 Penn State Nittany Lions will host No. 8 Fighting Illini at Jeffrey Field at 3:00 p.m. CT.
No. 2 seed Wisconsin Badgers, who share a Big Ten regular-season championship with Penn State, will welcome the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes at McClimon Soccer Complex.
The Northwestern Wildcats, seeded at No. 4, will go head-to-head with the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines.
Concluding play on Sunday, four teams will advance to the semifinals to be played on Nov. 6 at 3:30 p.m. ET and 6:00 p.m. ET.
BIG TEN HONORS
On Friday, the conference announced the 2015 women's soccer All-Big Ten teams and individual honors.
Among the pack collecting the most prestigious individual honors in the conference was junior co-captain Simone Kolander who earned the plaudit, Big Ten Forward of the Year.
Kolander leads the conference in goals (seven), to include six game-winners, five of which were netted in conference games.
Juniors Josee Stiever and Rashida Beal were named to the All-Big Ten Second Team, while freshmen April Bockin and Molly Fiedler were named to the All-Freshman Team.
The Big Ten also recognized 14 sportsmanship award honorees to include Gopher sophomore Kellie McGahn.
LOOKING AHEAD
Upon qualification, the Gophers could head to the Big Ten semifinals which are set for Nov. 6 at 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET. The Championship match will air on BTN on Nov. 8 at 2:00 p.m.
FOLLOW THE GOPHERS
Are you following the Gophers on the road or from home? Make sure to follow @GopherSoccer on Twitter and use the team's new hashtag #Unbreakable. You can also check for updates on Facebook and Instagram by "liking" Golden Gopher Soccer on Facebook or following the Gophers on Instagram.
For all the conference coverage, follow at bigten.org and on Twitter @bigtenchamps.
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