University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
2-1-2
UC Santa Barbara
3-1-0
Gopher Soccer Drops First Game of 2017
9/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
The University of Minnesota soccer team dropped their first game of the 2017 season against UC Santa Barbara by a score of 1-0 on Friday night.
The game-winner game in the 59th minute when the Gauchos were awarded a penalty kick for a handball that was called right at the outside of the box.
"We are really disappointed with the end result. To outshoot a team as much as we did, and lose on a penalty kick is a tough way to go down," said head coach Stefanie Golan. "We fought hard, we created some good chances and didn't finish, and at the end of the day we have to put together a solid 90 minute performance in order to win."
Amanda Ball took the penalty kick for UCSB and beat the outstretched Maddie Neilsen.
In the game, Minnesota outshot UCSB 19-6, including a frantic amount of attempts late in the game.
Nikki Albrecht nearly tied the game up in the final seconds after a scramble at the net, but the keeper for the Gauchos came up with one last save to seal the game.
"We were getting in and around the box a lot, and when you are down you are taking any chances you have to try and put one away," Golan explained. "We had a couple of close calls there, and it didn't go in for us, that is the game of soccer."
Minnesota had opportunities in the game, with a total of five shots on goal to the Gauchos two. Julianna Gernes sent a shot off of the keepers hands that then went off the post in the first half, keeping the score then at 0-0. Molly Fiedler also had an opportunity early in the second half that just didn't quite get the right bounce to cross the white line.
28'- Great pass into the box gets saved by the UCSB keeper. Gernes credited with the shot on goal. pic.twitter.com/7kyuKwv3d7
- Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) September 2, 2017
0-0 | A look at how close Fiedler was at grabbing the lead for Minnesota... pic.twitter.com/CfkDuEqIJs
- Minnesota Soccer (@GopherSoccer) September 2, 2017
April Bockin had a pair of chances late in the second half to tie the game. From almost the same exact spot, Bockin put two shots just high of the crossbar.
Defensively, the Gophers gave up little ground for the majority of the game. UCSB had only one shot in the first half, and did not have their first shot on goal until the penalty kick.
"I was satisfied, they had the ball but they were not dangerous," said Golan. "I was proud of Maddie Nielsen, she went the right way and almost had it."
The Gophers will now shift their focus to Providence. That game is set for Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
Team Stats
BALL, Amanda (4)
UCSB BALL, Amanda PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 4 for season.
59:56
