University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
7-2-3, 3-1-1
Maryland
7-3-1, 1-3-1
Gophers Take Down Terrapins 3-1 In College Park
10/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Rock the Robbie Friday! Tickets are just $1
Six big points are coming back to Minneapolis with the University of Minnesota soccer team after they wrapped up the weekend with a 3-1 win over Maryland in College Park, Md.
The Gophers (7-2-3, 3-1-1 Big Ten) were able to defeat the Terrapins with two goals in the first 11 minutes of the game and April Bockin iced the game in the second half with her second goal of the season.
"Six points on a road weekend is huge," head coach Stefanie Golan said. "It is hard enough to win games in the Big Ten, and even harder to win on the road. Now we get to come home and defend the Robbie and we are looking forward to being able to play in front of our home fans."
Molly Fiedler scored the first goal of the game for the Gophers. Her first career goal came perfectly off the crossbar and past the goal line to give Minnesota the early lead. Her goal came off impressive passes from Nikki Albrecht and Julianna Gernes.
Gernes assisted once again on the second goal of the game just five minutes later. Megan Koenig stepped into the pass and crushed the ball and it found the back of the net for her second of the season.
The #Gophers put another one past with Megan Koenig finishing an impressive opportunity! #SkiUMah pic.twitter.com/J6hNmFilgD
-- Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) October 1, 2017
"We were able to score a couple of goals early today that we were able to ride into halftime," Golan said. "April then was able to score in the second half to relieve the pressure. We talked after the game that it isn't always going to be pretty and Sunday games are always tough."
Maryland kept the crazy start of the game going with a goal just minutes later to bring the score to 2-1 just 13 minutes into the game.
The first three shots of the game between the two teams were all goals. After Fiedler's goal, the Gophers brought their total to 14 players who have scored this year, which is a program-record.
After the first half, the Maroon and Gold were even with Maryland in total shots, but had all three of their shots on goal in the first half.
Molly Fiedler's first career goal was as close as it gets after it goes in off the crossbar! 1-0 #Gophers! Assist to Albrecht! pic.twitter.com/571DlLkxtj
-- Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) October 1, 2017
In the second half, the Gophers did not fire many long shots; they kept pressuring the Terrapins and continuously were sending passes into the box, but were unable to get shots at the goal.
That changed with an impressive goal from Bockin in the 67th minute. After a ball rolled to the midfield, Koenig launched an arching ball that found the streaking Bockin on the right side of the field. Bockin then juked her defender, and finished with a bending left foot shot that beat the Maryland keeper.
A great pass from Koenig, a spectacular finish by Bockin, and a big hug from Coach on the third goal of the game for the #Gophers! pic.twitter.com/DE9dUqXfMW
-- Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) October 1, 2017
Koenig finished with one goal and one assist for the second time in her career, the last being against Omaha in 2014.
Kailee Sharp made one save in the game, and it was a big one. Sharp stopped a shot by Maryland after a cross was just in front of the net with five minutes to go in the game, keeping the Gophers up by two goals.
A look at Sharp's save to keep Maryland out of the net! pic.twitter.com/EWh8yqMO1k
-- Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) October 1, 2017
Overall, the Gophers put just four shots up, but three of them found the back of the net and four of them were on goal.
Minnesota will return home to host the Rock the Robbie event on Friday, Oct. 6 at 6:00 p.m. Minnesota will then host Purdue on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. to wrap up their home weekend.
Team Stats
Fiedler, Molly (1)
Assisted By: Albrecht, Nikki , Gernes, Julianna
Headed in rebound from shot that hit bar
6:10
Koenig, Megan (2)
Assisted By: Gernes, Julianna
Shot from 10 yards after a pass across
10:25
Madison Turner (3)
20 yards right side
12:25
Bockin, April (2)
Assisted By: Koenig, Megan
Finished in the right side of the box af
66:33
