University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
8-2-3
Indiana
5-7-2
Gophers Win Fourth Straight
10/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Don't Miss Sunday's Showdown Between Minnesota (8-2-3, 4-1-1) and Purdue (9-3-1, 4-1-1)!
On a rainy afternoon at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium, the University of Minnesota soccer team took care of business and won their fourth straight against Indiana University 3-2.
The Gophers got a pair of goals from Big Ten scoring leader Sydney Squires and then Julianna Gernes scored the game-winning goal in the second half.
"I think we are happy with the performance. W's are hard to come by in the Big Ten," associate head coach Krystle Seidel said. "It wasn't the perfect game by any means. We are never excited about conceding two goals, but the fact that we were able to respond from a goal down and be able to respond and come out on top is important for this group."
The Maroon and Gold fell behind early in the contest in the 11th minute. Indiana is just the fourth team to score first on the Gophers this season.
The Gophers responded just 47 seconds later when Squires finished off a pair of passes from Gernes and Maddie Gaffney to put Minnesota back even with the Hoosiers.
With momentum on their side, Squires struck again. Just two minutes and 11 seconds later Squires took a long distance pass from Megan Koenig, and with her first touch put the ball down, then slipped the ball past the Indiana keeper to give the Gophers the 2-1 lead.
Squires has now scored 29 goals in her career, which puts her at a tie for seventh place in program-history.
"I think that is something different about this team this year," said Seidel. "When we concede goals, we don't really hang our heads. Being able to stay resilient in these types of games is something that is huge for any team."
At the half the Maroon and Gold led in almost every category except for saves. They had put four of their nine shots on goal in the half.
In the second half it was more pressure from the Gophers. Minnesota matched and added one to their first half shot total with 10. Four of the 10 in the second half we on goal.
After Gernes an opportunity that went wide just five minutes in to the half, she made up for it just a minute later with a goal to put Minnesota up 3-1.
Gernes was streaking alongside Squires in the box and once again, April Bockin put the pass right where it needed to be for the junior to polish off the game-winning goal. Bockin now is tied for the sixth most assists in a single season with 10. The assist also give Bockin an assist in five straight games, which ties a program record.
The #Gophers highlights from tonight's 3-2 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers! pic.twitter.com/fE0x8yriGC
-- Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) October 7, 2017
Just 50 seconds later, the Hoosiers responded to cut the lead to 3-2. The goal from Indiana came on a header after a corner kick was put into the box.
Kailee Sharp then stepped up just four minutes later to make a save and keep the Gophers up 3-2. 12 minutes later the Gopher defenders blocked another two shots to hold to one goal advantage.
Emily Heslin almost polished off the game with a fourth goal for the Gophers but the junior captain couldn't quite finish the pass from Squires.
With just minutes left, Indiana had the ball near the Gophers box with a few opportunities in the last five minutes. Shots from the Hoosiers went high and senior defender Tori Burnett blocked another to keep the Gophers on top when the clock hit all zeros.
Minnesota will now shift their focus to Purdue on Sunday when the Boilermakers enter Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. The game is set for a kick off at 1:00 p.m.
"We have started a little streak and I think it is going to start to give us some momentum against a really good opponent on Sunday," Seidel said.
Make sure to follow the Gophers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get all your Minnesota soccer content for the rest of the season.
Team Stats
MILLER,MACY (1)
Assisted By: SMITH,KAYLA , PIPER,MAYA
GOAL by IND MILLER,MACY (FIRST GOAL), Assist by SMITH,KAYLA and PIPER,MAYA, goal number 1 for season.
11:45
Squires, Sydney (11)
Assisted By: Gernes, Julianna , Gaffney, Maddie
GOAL by MINN Squires, Sydney, Assist by Gernes, Julianna and Gaffney, Maddie, goal number 11 for season.
12:32
Squires, Sydney (12)
Assisted By: Koenig, Megan
GOAL by MINN Squires, Sydney, Assist by Koenig, Megan, goal number 12 for season.
14:43
Gernes, Julianna (6)
Assisted By: Bockin, April
GOAL by MINN Gernes, Julianna, Assist by Bockin, April, goal number 6 for season.
51:31
DAVIDSON,CHANDRA (6)
Assisted By: KIRK,KYLIE
Header GOAL by IND DAVIDSON,CHANDRA, Assist by KIRK,KYLIE, goal number 6 for season.
52:21
