University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
11-4-3, 7-3-1B1G
Nebraska
9-5-5, 3-3-5B1G
Gophers Secure Home Playoff Game with 1-0 Win
10/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Tickets: Gophers-Badgers Meet Sunday in B1G Quarterfinals
The last game of the Big Ten regular season was a dramatic one. The University of Minnesota soccer team clinched a home game on Sunday Oct. 29 with a double overtime, 1-0, win over Nebraska off the foot of Julianna Gernes.
The Gophers scored in the 101st minute, and secured the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament that will be played at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
"We had some adversity this week with Tori [Burnett] being out, we had to adjust our system, and had just two days to do that," head coach Stefanie Golan said. "I thought our team responded really well. When we hit adversity, there were two choices, you can hang your head or you can grit your teeth and get after it, and I thought our team did a great job at being gritty tonight."
Gernes scored the goal after a long run by Kellie McGahn, then a cross that found an outstretched Molly Fiedler in the middle of the box. She flicked the ball to the right side of the net where Gernes was waiting, and she delivered with a strike to the left side of the net, her ninth of the season.
Julianna Gernes wasn't going to miss out on an opportunity to play again at ELR! #SkiUMah pic.twitter.com/zqFzOHiUPF
-- Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) October 26, 2017
The overtime victory was the second for the Gophers this season, the first one coming against Providence, also in double overtime.
"With overtime, all you need is one opportunity and what an opportunity we had tonight," Golan said. "From the ball Petey played to April's touch, to Kellie driving end line to Julianna showing up on the back post, everything was spot on."
In regulation, the Gophers had to handle an inspired Nebraska team. On their senior night, Nebraska outshot the Gophers 10-7 in total, but Minnesota put five on frame, while Nebraska put on just two.
Those two Nebraska shots on goal were saved by starting goalkeeper, Kailee Sharp, who made an incredible save to keep the Cornhuskers off the board in second half.
A look at Sharp's diving save against Nebraska. pic.twitter.com/sXC3TLj8K4
-- Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) October 26, 2017
The Gophers tie for second place secures them a top-two finish in the Big Ten for the second straight season, only the second time in program-history where the Gophers have done that (1994-1995).
Stefanie Golan has now won at least 11 games in every season she has been at Minnesota, starting in 2012. The seven Big Ten wins is the second straight time the Gophers have reached that mark, which is the first time in team-history.
"We knew we had to win to come play another game at home. As a program, we are very excited for our seniors to be able to play at ELR at least one last time before their career is done," said Golan.
The Gophers will be back in action on Oct. 29 at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. They have drawn the No. 6 seed, Wisconsin, which will start at 1:00 p.m. on the Big Ten Network. The winner of that game will head to Westfield, Ind. to take on the winner of the Northwestern-Purdue game in Evanston, Ill.
Be sure to follow the Gophers postseason on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so you do not miss any of the action!
Team Stats
Gernes, Julianna (9)
Assisted By: McGahn, Kellie , Fiedler, Molly
Cross from left to right, short chip
100:54
