University of Minnesota Athletics
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Gophers Set for 11th NCAA Tournament Appearance
11/7/2018 10:50:00 AM | Soccer
Minnesota takes on Auburn in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota soccer is set to make their third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years and 11th NCAA appearance in program history. The Gophers will travel to Auburn, Ala. where they will take on Auburn in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. The winner will move on to the second round where they will face the winner of No. 2 seed UCLA and San Jose St. Friday's match will air live on the SEC Network+.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Minnesota is 9-9-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament dating back to the programs first NCAA appearance in 1995. All nine wins have come at home, while Minnesota is 0-8 when on the road in the postseason. The Gophers fell short of last year's NCAA tournament after bowing out of the 2016 NCAA tournament in the first round following a shootout against NC State. Going down as a scoreless draw, NC State advance past Minnesota in penalty kicks at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium 4-2.
Under head coach Stefanie Golan, the Gophers are 1-2-1 in the postseason and make their fourth postseason appearance over the seven year span.
GOPHERS CLAIM BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TITLE
Getting hot at the right time, Minnesota claimed their second Big Ten Tournament title in three seasons after advancing past top-seeded Penn State in penalty kicks, 5-4, following a scoreless 110 minutes. Mackenzie Langdok converted the decisive penalty kick before Maddie Nielsen came up with a save in the seventh round. It was the first big Ten final ever decided on penalties and just the fifth to go to overtime, with Minnesota becoming the fourth No. 7 seed to win the Big Ten Tournament title and the first since Wisconsin in 2005.
BOCKIN AND NIELSEN EARN MAJOR TOURNEMNT AWARDS
Senior April Bockin added to her Big Ten Forward of the Year accolade by being named the Offensive Player of the Tournament after scoring all three of Minnesota's goals as well as converting a penalty kick in the shootout.
Sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Nielsen was named the Defensive Player of the Tournament collecting 10 saves and three shutouts as well as the save in the seventh round of the shootout to win the Big Ten Tournament championship.
RECORD BOOK WATCH
April Bockin continues to etch her name in the Gophers' record books. The senior forward, with three goals in the tournament, is now ninth all-time in points (26 goals & 25 assists), tied for sixth in career assists (25) and eighth with nine career game-winning goals.
With an assist in the win against Nebraska in the Big Ten semifinals, Molly Fiedler is not tied for third all-time in assists with 26. Fiedler has recorded an assist in four of the last 10 matches for Minnesota.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday marks just the third meeting all-time and first postseason meeting between Minnesota and Auburn. The Tigers won the most recent meeting on September 7, 2014 after a two-goal second half led them to a 3-1 victory. The Gophers won the series first meeting on September 7, 1996 in shutout fashion at home by a score of 2-0.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Minnesota is 9-9-1 all-time in the NCAA Tournament dating back to the programs first NCAA appearance in 1995. All nine wins have come at home, while Minnesota is 0-8 when on the road in the postseason. The Gophers fell short of last year's NCAA tournament after bowing out of the 2016 NCAA tournament in the first round following a shootout against NC State. Going down as a scoreless draw, NC State advance past Minnesota in penalty kicks at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium 4-2.
Under head coach Stefanie Golan, the Gophers are 1-2-1 in the postseason and make their fourth postseason appearance over the seven year span.
GOPHERS CLAIM BIG TEN TOURNAMENT TITLE
Getting hot at the right time, Minnesota claimed their second Big Ten Tournament title in three seasons after advancing past top-seeded Penn State in penalty kicks, 5-4, following a scoreless 110 minutes. Mackenzie Langdok converted the decisive penalty kick before Maddie Nielsen came up with a save in the seventh round. It was the first big Ten final ever decided on penalties and just the fifth to go to overtime, with Minnesota becoming the fourth No. 7 seed to win the Big Ten Tournament title and the first since Wisconsin in 2005.
BOCKIN AND NIELSEN EARN MAJOR TOURNEMNT AWARDS
Senior April Bockin added to her Big Ten Forward of the Year accolade by being named the Offensive Player of the Tournament after scoring all three of Minnesota's goals as well as converting a penalty kick in the shootout.
Sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Nielsen was named the Defensive Player of the Tournament collecting 10 saves and three shutouts as well as the save in the seventh round of the shootout to win the Big Ten Tournament championship.
RECORD BOOK WATCH
April Bockin continues to etch her name in the Gophers' record books. The senior forward, with three goals in the tournament, is now ninth all-time in points (26 goals & 25 assists), tied for sixth in career assists (25) and eighth with nine career game-winning goals.
With an assist in the win against Nebraska in the Big Ten semifinals, Molly Fiedler is not tied for third all-time in assists with 26. Fiedler has recorded an assist in four of the last 10 matches for Minnesota.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday marks just the third meeting all-time and first postseason meeting between Minnesota and Auburn. The Tigers won the most recent meeting on September 7, 2014 after a two-goal second half led them to a 3-1 victory. The Gophers won the series first meeting on September 7, 1996 in shutout fashion at home by a score of 2-0.
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