University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, September 13
Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
1:00 PM
University of Minnesota
9
vs
1
Nebraska-Omaha
Minnesota Torches Omaha, 9-1
9/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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MINNEAPOLIS -The University of Minnesota women's soccer team ended their weekend homestand with two straight wins by collecting an eight goal margin over the Omaha Mavericks, for a final score of 9-1, Sunday afternoon.
With the win, the Gophers are now 5-1-2.
"We came out in the first half and created a lot of opportunities which we needed," said head coach Stefanie Golan. "This group needed to lift the lid off their [Omaha's] goal so to speak and they did exactly that. The amount of players who scored goals today (8) was huge and having a game where we're able to reward the entire team with playing time is a great thing to be able to do."
In the first half alone, the Gophers would upset the Mavericks going into the locker room with a grand total of seven goals spaced out just minutes away from one another.
Four minutes in, junior Josee Stiever found service from freshman April Bockin from the top of the box. Stiever's goal was the first of the 2015 season and the 10th of her career.
The second goal was set-up again by Bockin, this time from playing a through ball to redshirt senior Taylor Stainbrook, who finished the breakaway.
Goal three, scored in the 18th minute, was attributed to junior co-captain Simone Kolander. Kolander found a cross from senior co-captain Haley Helverson who served the ball to Stainbrook for the double assist play.
Sophomore Megan Koenig, tallied two goals and an assist and went 100% on her shots, as each one found the back of the net. At 27:52, Koenig netted her first goal of the game from 18 yards out.
Just eight minutes later, sophomore Julianna Gernes tallied her second career goal off an assist from classmate Sydney Squires, who played the ball past a defender to send to Gernes for the finish.
In the 39th minute, freshman Emily Heslin switched up the goal rhythm from the pitch to the air, as she headed one in off a cross from Koenig.
The seventh and final goal in the first half found the back of the net, as Koenig found the ball at the top of the box to fire it in from the far post.
"This was a big day for Megan," said Golan. "Being able to get two goals as well as an assist is huge for her and will carry her into Big Ten play with some swagger."
In the first half, the Maroon and Gold outshot the Mavericks 10-1 and earned eight corner kicks.
Coming out for the second half, the Mavericks kicked it up to try to stop the explosive Gopher offense and held them up until the the 69th minute, as sophomore Rachel McCloskey scored the eighth goal for Minnesota.
Omaha escaped a shutout three minutes to go in regulation, as freshman Kelsey Stithem found the back of the net off a double assist play from seniors Courtney Neville and Layla Ashouri.
Not wanting to end the game on an opponent goal, the Gophers tallied one more, to bring the final goal tally up to nine, as junior Ashley Pafko netted one from the right of the box.
Twenty four Gophers saw action on the field today, to make the win not only a full team effort, but that much more special as the senior class was honored at the beginning of the game.
"Even players that didn't score goals came up huge for our team today," said Golan. "April didn't net any, but she set-up the first two. Everyone on the field today contributed in a big way to the result and that's exactly what you want to happen on senior day."
"Going into today, we knew that their defenders weren't very fast, so our game plan was to take them on and within the first couple of minutes, I saw openings and played it across," said Bockin. "I used my speed because I knew that they weren't going to be able to keep up, so that's what I took the most advantage of."
On the night, the Gophers not only dominated in goals, but in every other aspect of the game as well. Minnesota tallied 15 shots, 80% of which were on target and 13 corner kicks. Omaha notched two shots, one corner kick, made three saves and had three fouls.
On a day that was dedicated to the senior class, the underclassmen were able to see the special bonds that Gopher soccer produces. Bockin could tell that going into this part of the season, she and her classmates have fully acclimated to the team and proved their contribution not only on but off the field.
"Continuing on in the season now that we have reached Big Ten play, I think that all of the freshmen are settling in a little more and we're feeling more a part of the team and have really learned how everyone plays," said Bockin. "I think we [the freshmen] have been integrated really well and a lot of us are getting a lot of playing time and playing good minutes when we are out there."
With the non-conference portion of the schedule complete, the Gophers move into the second half of their season where wins and losses not only count for their overall record, but conference as well.
"Picking up two wins this weekend was great going into Big Ten play," said Golan. "We were hoping that this weekend would end that way and that we could ride some momentum as we gear up for conference opponents. We travel on Wednesday already and moving forward, we just have to take care of ourselves, be mentally and physically prepared to take on big opponents coming up and today helped us get even more excited for what's ahead."
"It was great to be home," said Bockin. "But now, the real challenge begins."
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this weekend's homestand, the Gophers will open their conference play as they travel to Ohio State on Thursday, Sept. 17 for a 7:30 p.m. game against the Buckeyes. On Sunday, Sept. 20, Minnesota will play Penn State on the road, with first whistle set for 1:00 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.
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With the win, the Gophers are now 5-1-2.
"We came out in the first half and created a lot of opportunities which we needed," said head coach Stefanie Golan. "This group needed to lift the lid off their [Omaha's] goal so to speak and they did exactly that. The amount of players who scored goals today (8) was huge and having a game where we're able to reward the entire team with playing time is a great thing to be able to do."
In the first half alone, the Gophers would upset the Mavericks going into the locker room with a grand total of seven goals spaced out just minutes away from one another.
Four minutes in, junior Josee Stiever found service from freshman April Bockin from the top of the box. Stiever's goal was the first of the 2015 season and the 10th of her career.
The second goal was set-up again by Bockin, this time from playing a through ball to redshirt senior Taylor Stainbrook, who finished the breakaway.
Goal three, scored in the 18th minute, was attributed to junior co-captain Simone Kolander. Kolander found a cross from senior co-captain Haley Helverson who served the ball to Stainbrook for the double assist play.
Sophomore Megan Koenig, tallied two goals and an assist and went 100% on her shots, as each one found the back of the net. At 27:52, Koenig netted her first goal of the game from 18 yards out.
Just eight minutes later, sophomore Julianna Gernes tallied her second career goal off an assist from classmate Sydney Squires, who played the ball past a defender to send to Gernes for the finish.
In the 39th minute, freshman Emily Heslin switched up the goal rhythm from the pitch to the air, as she headed one in off a cross from Koenig.
The seventh and final goal in the first half found the back of the net, as Koenig found the ball at the top of the box to fire it in from the far post.
"This was a big day for Megan," said Golan. "Being able to get two goals as well as an assist is huge for her and will carry her into Big Ten play with some swagger."
In the first half, the Maroon and Gold outshot the Mavericks 10-1 and earned eight corner kicks.
Coming out for the second half, the Mavericks kicked it up to try to stop the explosive Gopher offense and held them up until the the 69th minute, as sophomore Rachel McCloskey scored the eighth goal for Minnesota.
Omaha escaped a shutout three minutes to go in regulation, as freshman Kelsey Stithem found the back of the net off a double assist play from seniors Courtney Neville and Layla Ashouri.
Not wanting to end the game on an opponent goal, the Gophers tallied one more, to bring the final goal tally up to nine, as junior Ashley Pafko netted one from the right of the box.
Twenty four Gophers saw action on the field today, to make the win not only a full team effort, but that much more special as the senior class was honored at the beginning of the game.
"Even players that didn't score goals came up huge for our team today," said Golan. "April didn't net any, but she set-up the first two. Everyone on the field today contributed in a big way to the result and that's exactly what you want to happen on senior day."
"Going into today, we knew that their defenders weren't very fast, so our game plan was to take them on and within the first couple of minutes, I saw openings and played it across," said Bockin. "I used my speed because I knew that they weren't going to be able to keep up, so that's what I took the most advantage of."
On the night, the Gophers not only dominated in goals, but in every other aspect of the game as well. Minnesota tallied 15 shots, 80% of which were on target and 13 corner kicks. Omaha notched two shots, one corner kick, made three saves and had three fouls.
On a day that was dedicated to the senior class, the underclassmen were able to see the special bonds that Gopher soccer produces. Bockin could tell that going into this part of the season, she and her classmates have fully acclimated to the team and proved their contribution not only on but off the field.
"Continuing on in the season now that we have reached Big Ten play, I think that all of the freshmen are settling in a little more and we're feeling more a part of the team and have really learned how everyone plays," said Bockin. "I think we [the freshmen] have been integrated really well and a lot of us are getting a lot of playing time and playing good minutes when we are out there."
With the non-conference portion of the schedule complete, the Gophers move into the second half of their season where wins and losses not only count for their overall record, but conference as well.
"Picking up two wins this weekend was great going into Big Ten play," said Golan. "We were hoping that this weekend would end that way and that we could ride some momentum as we gear up for conference opponents. We travel on Wednesday already and moving forward, we just have to take care of ourselves, be mentally and physically prepared to take on big opponents coming up and today helped us get even more excited for what's ahead."
"It was great to be home," said Bockin. "But now, the real challenge begins."
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this weekend's homestand, the Gophers will open their conference play as they travel to Ohio State on Thursday, Sept. 17 for a 7:30 p.m. game against the Buckeyes. On Sunday, Sept. 20, Minnesota will play Penn State on the road, with first whistle set for 1:00 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.
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Players Mentioned
Forward
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Forward/Defender
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Midfielder
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Midfielder
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Forward/Midfielder
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Midfielder/Defender
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Defender/Forward
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Forward
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Defender/Midfielder
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Midfielder
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