University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, October 21
Iowa City, IA
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Iowa
Players Mentioned
Photo by: Eric Miller
Gopher Soccer Wraps Up Regular Season with Iowa and Nebraska
10/20/2021 1:05:00 PM | Soccer
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota (8-4-3, 4-4-0 B1G) heads to Iowa (10-5-1, 4-4-0 B1G) on Oct. 21, before returning to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on Oct. 24, against Nebraska (5-9-2, 1-5-2 B1G) to conclude the 2021 regular season. The Maroon and Gold take on Iowa starting at 7 p.m. and Nebraska at 1 p.m. with both matches streamed on BTN+.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE THIS WEEKEND?
Minnesota: Controlling their own destiny, Minnesota will sit inside the top eight of the Big Ten and make the 2021 Big Ten Tournament with wins over Iowa and Nebraska
Minnesota: A win over Iowa would extend Minnesota's winning streak in the Hawkeye State to 12 with the last loss coming in 2008 to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament
Iowa: Currently in a four-way tie for fifth place in the conference, four or more points (a tie and a win) this weekend would likely put the reigning tournament champion Hawkeyes into the 2021 Big Ten Tournament
Nebraska: Nebraska's season will conclude on Sunday against Minnesota with the Huskers holding just five conference points and needing at least 12 to be inside the top eight to make the conference tournament
QUICK NOTES VS. IOWA AND NEBRASKA
- Minnesota is unbeaten against Nebraska in its last seven matches with the Cornhuskers last win coming in 2013, during that span Minnesota has outscored Nebraska 13-2
- Minnesota owns a 14-6-4 all-time record against Iowa with the two teams splitting last season's matches
- Iowa made last season's NCAA Tournament after winning the Big Ten Tournament and earning the conference's automatic bid
- Despite sharing a border with Minnesota, Iowa does not have a single student-athlete from the Land of 10,000 Lakes on its roster while Nebraska has two on its current roster
- The 2021 season for Minnesota will be the first under the new leadership of Erin Chastain who returned to her alma mater after serving as the head coach at DePaul for the past 14 seasons
- The University of Minnesota coaching staff is comprised of four women, making them one of just four staffs across the Power 5 conferences to have an all-female staff
LAST TIME OUT - NORTHWESTERN
The University of Minnesota (8-4-3, 4-4-0 B1G) completed a perfect 2-0-0 weekend with a 1-0 win on the road against Northwestern on Oct. 17. Fifth-year senior Makenzie Langdok scored the game-winning goal in the first half to help Minnesota defeat Northwestern and Illinois for the first time in the same season since 2012.
"Proud of this group to post two shutouts this weekend," head coach Erin Chastain said. "Sunday games are a grind and being on the road is a grind. I think the group's mentality was great today. We scored a great goal and then had to withstand some pressure at the end of the second half. So proud and now we have to get prepared for a good Iowa team on Thursday."
OWNING IOWA
Since 2008 Minnesota soccer has won a staggering 11 matches in a row in the state of Iowa. The winning streak was extended earlier this season with the Gophers 1-0 win over Drake. The last loss in the state of Iowa came against Penn State in the 2008 Big Ten Tournament Championship match.
CONFERENCE CONFIDENCE
Since Big Ten play began on Sept. 18 the Gophers have been the Big Ten's most lethal offense, scoring 19 goals in eight matches (with a league-leading scoring average of 2.375). Minnesota has not only been scoring, but they have done it in the most efficient fashion, holding a league-best 20.0 scoring percentage during Big Ten play. Individually during conference play, Izzy Brown leads the Gophers and is tied for the second most goals in conference play with four with her 20.7 scoring percentage the best on the team this season. Additionally, is one of just three Big Ten schools this season to score in every Big Ten match along with now Purdue and Rutgers.
SCOUTING IOWA
The Hawkeyes (10-5-1, 4-4-0 B1G) secured its first winning streak during conference play with wins over Nebraska (4-3) and Illinois (3-2) last week. Iowa roared back to defeat Nebraska after falling behind 3-0 and then got a hat-trick performance from Meike Ingles against Illinois to win a back and forth affair. Alyssa Walker is the team's leading scorer this season with seven goals along with a team-leading 52 shots with 21 on goal. Kenzie Roling also has been a factor offensively with five goals on 27 shots in just 14 matches played. Monica Wilhelm has played in all 16 matches in goal for the Illini, making 58 saves while holding a goals against average of 1.07 in just over 1,426 minutes.
As a team the Hawkeyes are a top 50 team in the nation in shots on goal per match with a mark of 7.69. The team is fifth in total goals since conference play has begun with a total of 13 while they have given up the fourth most goals (13) during that span.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
The Cornhuskers (5-9-2, 1-5-2 B1G) are fresh off their first conference win of the season, defeating Wisconsin 1-0 at home. Nebraska, who is already eliminated from making the Big Ten Tournament, had a few similar opponents with the Gophers during the non-conference season. They defeated a now ranked Baylor team 2-1 on the road and then lost at home to Omaha 1-0. Individually sophomore Eleanor Dale is the team's leading scorer with seven goals this season and is currently on a three-match goal scoring streak with goals against Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin. Fellow sophomore Reagan Raabe is right behind Dale with six goals this season but has just one goal during conference play. Makinzie Short has made the last two starts for the Cornhuskers, allowing four goals against Iowa but then bouncing back with a clean sheet against Wisconsin.
As a team Nebraska is 39th in the nation in shots on goal per match and is second best in the conference with a mark of 7.94. Nebraska can be a physical team with 14 yellow cards issued to the team this season. Nebraska has scored 10 goals in conference play, with six of them coming in the last three matches, and has allowed the third most at 15 during Big Ten play.
FIRST-HALF FRENZY
Among Minnesota's 27 goals this season 20 have come in the first half of play with five getting added to that total in last weekend's action against Illinois and Northwestern. In Big Ten play 12 of Minnesota's 19 goals have come in the first half. The Gophers' 12 first-half goals in conference play is the most in the conference with Rutgers' nine first-half goals the closest team to that toal. Individually Izzy Brown has scored five of those first-half goals for Minnesota during the season, with her most recent goal being the gamewinner for the Maroon and Gold against Penn State in the 25 minute.
LANGDOK, PLASCHKO EARN BIG TEN WEEKLY HONORS
Makenzie Langdok and Megan Plaschko were honored by the Big Ten for their performances last week, as announced by the conference office on Oct. 19. Langdok earned the Defensive Player of the Week honor while Plaschko was named the Goalkeeper of the Week.
Minnesota is the first team this season to sweep both the Defensive Player of the Week and Goalkeeper of the Week honors in the same week. For both Langdok and Plaschko it is the second time they have been awarded for their performances by the conference this year.
UP NEXT
Minnesota still has work to do to extend its season to the Big Ten Tournament that begins on Oct. 31. The top four in the final Big Ten regular season standings will host the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament with the top remaining seed hosting the semifinals and the Big Ten Tournament final. Check back with GopherSports.com for updates on a potential Minnesota 2021 Big Ten Tournament bid.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE THIS WEEKEND?
Minnesota: Controlling their own destiny, Minnesota will sit inside the top eight of the Big Ten and make the 2021 Big Ten Tournament with wins over Iowa and Nebraska
Minnesota: A win over Iowa would extend Minnesota's winning streak in the Hawkeye State to 12 with the last loss coming in 2008 to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament
Iowa: Currently in a four-way tie for fifth place in the conference, four or more points (a tie and a win) this weekend would likely put the reigning tournament champion Hawkeyes into the 2021 Big Ten Tournament
Nebraska: Nebraska's season will conclude on Sunday against Minnesota with the Huskers holding just five conference points and needing at least 12 to be inside the top eight to make the conference tournament
QUICK NOTES VS. IOWA AND NEBRASKA
- Minnesota is unbeaten against Nebraska in its last seven matches with the Cornhuskers last win coming in 2013, during that span Minnesota has outscored Nebraska 13-2
- Minnesota owns a 14-6-4 all-time record against Iowa with the two teams splitting last season's matches
- Iowa made last season's NCAA Tournament after winning the Big Ten Tournament and earning the conference's automatic bid
- Despite sharing a border with Minnesota, Iowa does not have a single student-athlete from the Land of 10,000 Lakes on its roster while Nebraska has two on its current roster
- The 2021 season for Minnesota will be the first under the new leadership of Erin Chastain who returned to her alma mater after serving as the head coach at DePaul for the past 14 seasons
- The University of Minnesota coaching staff is comprised of four women, making them one of just four staffs across the Power 5 conferences to have an all-female staff
LAST TIME OUT - NORTHWESTERN
The University of Minnesota (8-4-3, 4-4-0 B1G) completed a perfect 2-0-0 weekend with a 1-0 win on the road against Northwestern on Oct. 17. Fifth-year senior Makenzie Langdok scored the game-winning goal in the first half to help Minnesota defeat Northwestern and Illinois for the first time in the same season since 2012.
"Proud of this group to post two shutouts this weekend," head coach Erin Chastain said. "Sunday games are a grind and being on the road is a grind. I think the group's mentality was great today. We scored a great goal and then had to withstand some pressure at the end of the second half. So proud and now we have to get prepared for a good Iowa team on Thursday."
OWNING IOWA
Since 2008 Minnesota soccer has won a staggering 11 matches in a row in the state of Iowa. The winning streak was extended earlier this season with the Gophers 1-0 win over Drake. The last loss in the state of Iowa came against Penn State in the 2008 Big Ten Tournament Championship match.
CONFERENCE CONFIDENCE
Since Big Ten play began on Sept. 18 the Gophers have been the Big Ten's most lethal offense, scoring 19 goals in eight matches (with a league-leading scoring average of 2.375). Minnesota has not only been scoring, but they have done it in the most efficient fashion, holding a league-best 20.0 scoring percentage during Big Ten play. Individually during conference play, Izzy Brown leads the Gophers and is tied for the second most goals in conference play with four with her 20.7 scoring percentage the best on the team this season. Additionally, is one of just three Big Ten schools this season to score in every Big Ten match along with now Purdue and Rutgers.
SCOUTING IOWA
The Hawkeyes (10-5-1, 4-4-0 B1G) secured its first winning streak during conference play with wins over Nebraska (4-3) and Illinois (3-2) last week. Iowa roared back to defeat Nebraska after falling behind 3-0 and then got a hat-trick performance from Meike Ingles against Illinois to win a back and forth affair. Alyssa Walker is the team's leading scorer this season with seven goals along with a team-leading 52 shots with 21 on goal. Kenzie Roling also has been a factor offensively with five goals on 27 shots in just 14 matches played. Monica Wilhelm has played in all 16 matches in goal for the Illini, making 58 saves while holding a goals against average of 1.07 in just over 1,426 minutes.
As a team the Hawkeyes are a top 50 team in the nation in shots on goal per match with a mark of 7.69. The team is fifth in total goals since conference play has begun with a total of 13 while they have given up the fourth most goals (13) during that span.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
The Cornhuskers (5-9-2, 1-5-2 B1G) are fresh off their first conference win of the season, defeating Wisconsin 1-0 at home. Nebraska, who is already eliminated from making the Big Ten Tournament, had a few similar opponents with the Gophers during the non-conference season. They defeated a now ranked Baylor team 2-1 on the road and then lost at home to Omaha 1-0. Individually sophomore Eleanor Dale is the team's leading scorer with seven goals this season and is currently on a three-match goal scoring streak with goals against Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin. Fellow sophomore Reagan Raabe is right behind Dale with six goals this season but has just one goal during conference play. Makinzie Short has made the last two starts for the Cornhuskers, allowing four goals against Iowa but then bouncing back with a clean sheet against Wisconsin.
As a team Nebraska is 39th in the nation in shots on goal per match and is second best in the conference with a mark of 7.94. Nebraska can be a physical team with 14 yellow cards issued to the team this season. Nebraska has scored 10 goals in conference play, with six of them coming in the last three matches, and has allowed the third most at 15 during Big Ten play.
FIRST-HALF FRENZY
Among Minnesota's 27 goals this season 20 have come in the first half of play with five getting added to that total in last weekend's action against Illinois and Northwestern. In Big Ten play 12 of Minnesota's 19 goals have come in the first half. The Gophers' 12 first-half goals in conference play is the most in the conference with Rutgers' nine first-half goals the closest team to that toal. Individually Izzy Brown has scored five of those first-half goals for Minnesota during the season, with her most recent goal being the gamewinner for the Maroon and Gold against Penn State in the 25 minute.
LANGDOK, PLASCHKO EARN BIG TEN WEEKLY HONORS
Makenzie Langdok and Megan Plaschko were honored by the Big Ten for their performances last week, as announced by the conference office on Oct. 19. Langdok earned the Defensive Player of the Week honor while Plaschko was named the Goalkeeper of the Week.
Minnesota is the first team this season to sweep both the Defensive Player of the Week and Goalkeeper of the Week honors in the same week. For both Langdok and Plaschko it is the second time they have been awarded for their performances by the conference this year.
UP NEXT
Minnesota still has work to do to extend its season to the Big Ten Tournament that begins on Oct. 31. The top four in the final Big Ten regular season standings will host the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament with the top remaining seed hosting the semifinals and the Big Ten Tournament final. Check back with GopherSports.com for updates on a potential Minnesota 2021 Big Ten Tournament bid.
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