University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, August 19
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
1-0-0, 0-0-0
1
vs
0
Baylor
0-1-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Baylor
0
0
0
Minnesota
1
0
1
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Shutout Baylor to Earn Chastain's First Win
8/19/2021 8:50:00 PM | Soccer
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota women's soccer program (1-0-0, 0-0-0 B1G) secured a 1-0 victory over Baylor (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Big 12) on Thursday evening, giving first-year head coach Erin Chastain her first win as head coach. Sophomore Sophia Boman notched the game-winning goal for the Maroon and Gold while captain Megan Plaschko secured the clean sheet in the season opener.
"To grind out a 1-0, shutout win, against a really good Baylor team just makes me feel really good about the foundation of our team," Chastain said after the win. "We had a couple of really good looks early where we were able to get behind Baylor and their goalkeeper made some really good saves. Sophia was really gritty and she did a great job of keeping her finish low and putting it on frame. [Elizabeth Overberg] stepped into the back line and played like a veteran back there. Partially thanks to the great leadership back there with Makenzie Langdok and Delaney Stekr and Abi Frandsen. Overall, I don't think we gave Baylor a lot of clean looks and Plaschko did a great job at sealing the win for us today at the end. She made a great play on one of their last services and she stepped up and made a great play. Good for her as she's already stepping into the captain role for our team."
The Chastain era of Gopher soccer could not have gotten off to a better start with Boman scoring in the sixth minute. After an attacking chance from freshman Khyah Harper was deflected by the Bears' keeper, Boman charged forward and put a strike that found the back of the net. Boman's goal is the third of her career and was unassisted.
"We came out as a team really strong today," Boman said. "After Khyah's shot I noticed the goalkeeper was off her line, so I just put a ball toward the net and it worked out. We have to give a lot of credit to our back line though, they really held us together today, especially in the second half."
The Gophers continued to pressure the visiting Baylor Bears throughout the first half, and by halftime still held a 7-6 shot advantage which included more quality chances with a 4-2 shots on goal edge.
The second half proved to be a physical one. Baylor continued to put forward numbers, but the Gophers defense did not break. Plaschko's five-save performance proved to be enough to keep the Bears off the board with the Bear's best opportunity coming when Taylor Moon sent a shot that deflected off the crossbar.
"As a collective team, we worked our butts off defensively and we knew coming into this game we were going to have to do that," Plaschko said. "Our back line played great and they stepped up together as a team. I think it was huge for us to get out here and just get our first win under our belt and obviously a shutout is what you strive for."
With Thursday's win the Gophers' home opening record improves to 7-1-1 since 2013. In that span Minnesota has outscored their opponents 15-3 while securing a sixth shutout against Baylor. For Chastain the season-opening home win moves her record to 6-2-2 over the past 10 seasons. The win over Baylor gives the Gophers four-straight wins over Power 5 opponents in season-opening matches at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium with a combined score of 8-1 with wins over the Big 12, the Pac 12 and the SEC since 2016.
Minnesota shifts its focus to the University of Illinois – Chicago on Sunday, Aug. 22, at 1 p.m. on BTN+. The matchup with the Flames is the first between the two programs.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherSoccer) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the 2021 season.
"To grind out a 1-0, shutout win, against a really good Baylor team just makes me feel really good about the foundation of our team," Chastain said after the win. "We had a couple of really good looks early where we were able to get behind Baylor and their goalkeeper made some really good saves. Sophia was really gritty and she did a great job of keeping her finish low and putting it on frame. [Elizabeth Overberg] stepped into the back line and played like a veteran back there. Partially thanks to the great leadership back there with Makenzie Langdok and Delaney Stekr and Abi Frandsen. Overall, I don't think we gave Baylor a lot of clean looks and Plaschko did a great job at sealing the win for us today at the end. She made a great play on one of their last services and she stepped up and made a great play. Good for her as she's already stepping into the captain role for our team."
The Chastain era of Gopher soccer could not have gotten off to a better start with Boman scoring in the sixth minute. After an attacking chance from freshman Khyah Harper was deflected by the Bears' keeper, Boman charged forward and put a strike that found the back of the net. Boman's goal is the third of her career and was unassisted.
"We came out as a team really strong today," Boman said. "After Khyah's shot I noticed the goalkeeper was off her line, so I just put a ball toward the net and it worked out. We have to give a lot of credit to our back line though, they really held us together today, especially in the second half."
The Gophers continued to pressure the visiting Baylor Bears throughout the first half, and by halftime still held a 7-6 shot advantage which included more quality chances with a 4-2 shots on goal edge.
The second half proved to be a physical one. Baylor continued to put forward numbers, but the Gophers defense did not break. Plaschko's five-save performance proved to be enough to keep the Bears off the board with the Bear's best opportunity coming when Taylor Moon sent a shot that deflected off the crossbar.
"As a collective team, we worked our butts off defensively and we knew coming into this game we were going to have to do that," Plaschko said. "Our back line played great and they stepped up together as a team. I think it was huge for us to get out here and just get our first win under our belt and obviously a shutout is what you strive for."
With Thursday's win the Gophers' home opening record improves to 7-1-1 since 2013. In that span Minnesota has outscored their opponents 15-3 while securing a sixth shutout against Baylor. For Chastain the season-opening home win moves her record to 6-2-2 over the past 10 seasons. The win over Baylor gives the Gophers four-straight wins over Power 5 opponents in season-opening matches at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium with a combined score of 8-1 with wins over the Big 12, the Pac 12 and the SEC since 2016.
Minnesota shifts its focus to the University of Illinois – Chicago on Sunday, Aug. 22, at 1 p.m. on BTN+. The matchup with the Flames is the first between the two programs.
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota women's soccer on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherSoccer) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the 2021 season.
Team Stats
BAY
Minn
Goals
0
1
Shots
18
11
Shots on Goal
5
6
Saves
5
5
Corners
1
5
Fouls
6
9
Scoring Plays
Sophia Boman (1)
GOAL by Minn Boman, Sophia.
05:40
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
5
SOG
4
Goals
0
Assists
0
mid
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
/ SoccerForward
/ Soccer
Defender
/ SoccerMidfielder/Defender
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Defender
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