University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, August 11
Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
0-0
2
vs
1
South Dakota State
0-0
1
2
F
SDSU
0
1
1
Minnesota
2
0
2
Strong First Half Pushes Gophers Past South Dakota State in Exhibition Play
8/11/2018 8:51:00 PM | Soccer
A two goal first half aided Minnesota soccer to defeating South Dakota State 2-1 in their final exhibition match.
MINNEAPOLIS – As the sun set on a crowd of 862 fans at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium, Minnesota used a balanced first half attack to defeat South Dakota State 2-1 in their final friendly of the preseason. Sophomore Makenzie Langdok netted the Gophers first goal in the 21st minute before junior Haley Mennes netted the game winner right before half. Between the posts, freshman Ana Aguado played all 90 minutes collecting two saves on four shots.
"I think on the attacking side we were good with our set pieces today," said Head Coach Stefanie Golan. "I thought our shape on the press was okay, but our execution was not. We have some good blocks to build upon, but we have to get better and refine it. Now we get to start building."
Minnesota broke through on the scoreboard in the 21st minute for the second straight match. Langdok originated the play outside of 18 yards before giving it up to freshman Patricia Ward. Calm and poised with a defender on her, Ward had the vision to see Langdok sprint to the six-yard line where no defender was within a yard of her. Ward fed it right back to Langdok as she found the back of the net to complete the give and go.
The Maroon and Gold back line stood firm allowing one lone shot in the first half that came in the 22nd minute.
Coming up on the final 30 seconds of play the Gophers saw one more opportunity with a corner kick. Freshman McKenna Buisman placed a good ball off the corner just in front of the South Dakota State keeper. Despite punching it out of harm's way, the ball landed right on the foot of Mennes who controlled it before putting it right to the back of the net in the 45th minute.
Out of the break, Minnesota wasted no time firing off a handful of shots in the first 12 minutes. The Jackrabbits quieted the Gophers offense the rest of the way despite the Maroon and Gold leading the shot battle 22-4.
South Dakota State denied the host Gophers of a shutout in the 69th minute. A SDSU free kick bounced off a diving Aguado before Darien Poelstra secured the rebound and scored from seven yards out.
The Gophers conclude their preseason matches having gone 2-0 while netting five goals. Minnesota begins the season on the road as they travel to Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 17 to take on Utah for the season opener before heading to Utah State on Sunday, Aug. 19.
"I think on the attacking side we were good with our set pieces today," said Head Coach Stefanie Golan. "I thought our shape on the press was okay, but our execution was not. We have some good blocks to build upon, but we have to get better and refine it. Now we get to start building."
Minnesota broke through on the scoreboard in the 21st minute for the second straight match. Langdok originated the play outside of 18 yards before giving it up to freshman Patricia Ward. Calm and poised with a defender on her, Ward had the vision to see Langdok sprint to the six-yard line where no defender was within a yard of her. Ward fed it right back to Langdok as she found the back of the net to complete the give and go.
The Maroon and Gold back line stood firm allowing one lone shot in the first half that came in the 22nd minute.
Coming up on the final 30 seconds of play the Gophers saw one more opportunity with a corner kick. Freshman McKenna Buisman placed a good ball off the corner just in front of the South Dakota State keeper. Despite punching it out of harm's way, the ball landed right on the foot of Mennes who controlled it before putting it right to the back of the net in the 45th minute.
Out of the break, Minnesota wasted no time firing off a handful of shots in the first 12 minutes. The Jackrabbits quieted the Gophers offense the rest of the way despite the Maroon and Gold leading the shot battle 22-4.
South Dakota State denied the host Gophers of a shutout in the 69th minute. A SDSU free kick bounced off a diving Aguado before Darien Poelstra secured the rebound and scored from seven yards out.
The Gophers conclude their preseason matches having gone 2-0 while netting five goals. Minnesota begins the season on the road as they travel to Salt Lake City on Friday, Aug. 17 to take on Utah for the season opener before heading to Utah State on Sunday, Aug. 19.
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Team Stats
SDSU
MINN
Goals
1
2
Shots
4
22
Shots on Goal
3
9
Saves
7
2
Corners
1
4
Fouls
7
10
Scoring Plays
Makenzie Langdok
Assisted By: Patricia Ward
Give and go, shot inside of 6 yards.
20:30
Haley Mennes
Rebound off of corner kick.
44:43
Darien Poelstra
Rebound shot off free kick.
68:08
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Forward
/ SoccerForward
/ SoccerMidfielder
/ SoccerForward
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