University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Meet Badgers in Postseason Border Battle
10/27/2017 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
| Minnesota (11-4-3, 7-3-1 Big Ten) vs Wisconsin (12-4-2, 6-3-2 Big Ten) | |
| Date/Time | Sunday, Oct. 29 | 1:00 p.m. CT |
| Location | Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium |
| Tickets | Buy Tickets |
| Parking | Information |
| Live Video | Big Ten Network |
| Live Stats | |
| Live Updates | Updates |
| Social Media | @GopherSoccer | Facebook | Instagram |
After an 11-4-3 regular season record, the University of Minnesota soccer team secured a No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will take on the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Sunday Oct. 29 at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
SCOUTING THE BADGERS
Wisconsin enters the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 6 seed after finishing with an overall record of 12-4-2 (6-3-2 Big Ten). The Badgers have won their last two games against Iowa and No. 11 Penn State while shutting them both out. Wisconsin shutout the Gophers earlier this season in Madison in a 1-0 overtime game in which the Badgers won on a penalty kick off a handball. Dani Rhodes, who has scored 10 goals this season, and six of them during Big Ten season, leads Wisconsin offensively. Caitlyn Clem is the goalkeeper for the Badgers. She has registered nine shutouts this season, tied for the second most in the Big Ten this season, and has a save percentage of just under 77 percent. Clem has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week three times this season.
LAST TIME OUT - NEBRASKA
The Gophers were put in a situation on Wednesday where they were the last regular season game to be played, and there was a lot riding on it. The Gophers double overtime win pushed them from a possible No. 6 seed, all the way up to the No. 3 seed. Minnesota achieved that seed with a goal in the first minute of double overtime. Julianna Gernes finished off a pair of passes from Kellie McGahn and Molly Fiedler on the right side of the net to help the Gophers earn the victory on the road. The goal was her ninth of the season, and the seventh in Big Ten play.
"I thought our team responded really well," head coach Stefanie Golan said. "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."
MINI-BIG TEN TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
The 2017 Big Ten Tournament has gone under a few minor changes. Unlike past seasons, the No. 1 seed will not have home-field advantage throughout the tournament. Only quarterfinal games will be played at the higher seed. In the semifinals and finals, the games will be played at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana.
Sunday at 1 CT. Be there or be in front of a TV to watch @GopherSoccer on BTN in the Big Ten Tournament: pic.twitter.com/uOPrvsSqMo
- Minnesota on BTN (@MinnesotaOnBTN) October 27, 2017
ALL-BIG TEN
The Gophers had four All-Big Ten players this season, the conference office announced earlier today. Sydney Squires earned First Team honors with her 14 goals this season. Molly Fiedler and Tori Burnett each were named Second Team. Fiedler was second on the team in assists and was second in Big Ten play in assists. Burnett was a part of a defense that set a program record for shots on goal allowed in a season, which also was the Big Ten low this season at 48. April Bockin was also named to the Third Team for her performance as a forward.
Sydney Squires was named All-Big Ten First Team today. Her 14 goals is tied for the eighth most in a single-season in program-history! pic.twitter.com/odLyjnVqWR
- Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) October 27, 2017
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
The Gophers have been statistically the best team in the Big Ten this season. Sydney Squires has scored 14 goals this season, which is a tie for the most in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Julianna Gernes has scored nine goals, seven of which have been during Big Ten play. 2017 is the first time since 1999 that the Gophers have had two different players score at least nine goals in a single season.
WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
The 2017 senior class has been to the Big Ten Tournament each of the last four years. The Gophers in that span have gone 4-2 in six games. Minnesota has scored six goals in those games, and has not lost at ELR in postseason play.
