University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Northwestern
Players Mentioned
Gophers Close Regular Season with Road Trip to Illinois
10/22/2019 11:51:00 AM | Soccer
THIS WEEK IN GOPHER SOCCER
The Gophers finish up their 2019 season with a road trip to face off against a pair of Big Ten opponents: Northwestern and Illinois. Thursday's match against the Wildcats with be nationally televised on Big Ten Network at 6pm while Sunday's season finale can be found streaming on BTN+ at 1pm.
Both the Wildcats and Fighting Illini settled for 0-1-1 records last weekend on the road.
SERIES HISTORY
Throughout their history, the Maroon and Gold have taken on the Wildcats 26 times and the Fighting Illini 22 times.
Northwestern and Minnesota first met in 1994 with a 5-1 victory for the Gophers at home. In totality, the Gophers hold a 15-9-2 advantage over the Wildcats and won the team's last meeting 2-0 on Sept. 16, 2018.
The Gophers and Illini met for the first time in 1997 when the Gophers took home a 1-0 win on the road. Now entering the 23rd all-time meeting, Minnesota trails the series 9-12-1, but the two teams have split their last six appearances with each side winning three of those meetings.
CAREER ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE
After four years on the Gophers, senior Catherine Billings saved her longest career appearance for her final game at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. After a teammate went down in the first 15 minutes, Billings was the first substitute off the bench for the Gophers and made the most of her minutes.
The Utah native made an impact on the backline and could be seen breaking up passes and creating counter attacks throughout the Sunday matinee. By the end of the day Billings had set a new career-high with 69 minutes played.
FRESHMAN ATTACK
With Paige Elliott's 58th minute goal against Iowa on Oct. 20, she joins Sadie Harper as the two Gophers freshman with goals this season. Harper had scored towards the beginning of the season against Arkansas on August 29 in the 52nd minute.
As a freshman class, six Gophers had made appearances as they all combine for 75 shots, including 29 of those on frame. In total the group has two goals and two assists.
MARISA RELIABLE
With the end of the Gophers' home slate, senior defender Marisa Windingstad cemented herself as the only position player to play every minute of the Gophers home schedule. Having never missed a minute this season at home or on the road, Windingstad is already up to 1,653 minutes on the season.