University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, October 16
Seattle, WA
10:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Washington
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Minnesota Heads West for Big Ten Road Trip
10/15/2025 12:45:00 PM | Soccer
The Golden Gophers will face No. 17 Washington on Thursday and Oregon on Sunday
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota women's soccer team heads west this weekend to face No. 17 Washington and Oregon in the first-ever conference meetings between the programs. The Golden Gophers will take on the Huskies on Thursday at 10 p.m. CT, followed by a matchup with the Ducks on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.
Minnesota (6-6-2, 2-4-2 Big Ten) vs. No. 17 Washington (9-1-5, 6-0-2 Big Ten)
Date: Oct. 16
Time: 10 p.m. CT
TV: Big Ten Network (Tracey Bailey, A.J. Kanell)
Location: Seattle, Wash.
Minnesota (6-6-2, 2-4-2 Big Ten) vs. Oregon (2-9-4, 0-5-3 Big Ten)
Date: Oct. 19
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Last Time Out
The Golden Gophers earned four big points last weekend with a win over Southern California and a tie against No. 9 UCLA. It marked the first time in program history that Minnesota earned a point against UCLA and its first conference win over Southern California.
Paige Kalal and Caroline Birdsell each scored against the Trojans, marking their fifth and third goals of the season, respectively. Notably, Kalal and Birdsell have contributed to four of their eight goals with an assist.
Super Sarah
After recording 18 saves over two games last weekend, including her fourth shutout of the season against No. 9 UCLA, University of Minnesota goalkeeper Sarah Martin was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday.
The honor is the first of Martin's career. On Sunday, the Champlin, Minn., native recorded a career-high 12 saves, the most by any Big Ten goalkeeper in a single game this season. She added six more saves against Southern California on Thursday, bringing her two-game total to 18, the highest two-game mark of her collegiate career.
Martin currently ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 31 nationally in saves per game, averaging 5.36. She also leads all Power Four conference goalkeepers in that category. Following the weekend, she ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 18 in the NCAA in total saves with 75.
Top Drawer Soccer Top 100 Freshmen
Freshman defender Tyra Chu is ranked among the best freshmen in the country in Top Drawer Soccer's latest poll. Chu is No. 26 in the midseason rankings. This season, Chu has started and played in every game, missing only eight minutes of play. She has totaled 1,252 minutes in the backline so far.
Consistency is Key!
Kalal and fellow junior Kate Childers have made 53 consecutive appearances for the Maroon and Gold since their freshman year. Childers has started all 53 games in her career, while Kalal has started 40, including 36 straight dating back to last season.
Kalal leads the Gophers in points (13), goals (5), assists (3) and shots (35). Childers ranks second in assists (2), fourth in goals (2), and has played every minute of every game this season.
First Time B1G Opponents
This weekend's games mark the first time Minnesota will face Washington as a Big Ten opponent, and the first time it will play Oregon in program history. The Gophers and Huskies have met only once before in 1996, when Minnesota defeated Washington 2-1 in Portland, Oregon.
Minnesota (6-6-2, 2-4-2 Big Ten) vs. No. 17 Washington (9-1-5, 6-0-2 Big Ten)
Date: Oct. 16
Time: 10 p.m. CT
TV: Big Ten Network (Tracey Bailey, A.J. Kanell)
Location: Seattle, Wash.
Minnesota (6-6-2, 2-4-2 Big Ten) vs. Oregon (2-9-4, 0-5-3 Big Ten)
Date: Oct. 19
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Eugene, Ore.
Last Time Out
The Golden Gophers earned four big points last weekend with a win over Southern California and a tie against No. 9 UCLA. It marked the first time in program history that Minnesota earned a point against UCLA and its first conference win over Southern California.
Paige Kalal and Caroline Birdsell each scored against the Trojans, marking their fifth and third goals of the season, respectively. Notably, Kalal and Birdsell have contributed to four of their eight goals with an assist.
Super Sarah
After recording 18 saves over two games last weekend, including her fourth shutout of the season against No. 9 UCLA, University of Minnesota goalkeeper Sarah Martin was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday.
The honor is the first of Martin's career. On Sunday, the Champlin, Minn., native recorded a career-high 12 saves, the most by any Big Ten goalkeeper in a single game this season. She added six more saves against Southern California on Thursday, bringing her two-game total to 18, the highest two-game mark of her collegiate career.
Martin currently ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 31 nationally in saves per game, averaging 5.36. She also leads all Power Four conference goalkeepers in that category. Following the weekend, she ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 18 in the NCAA in total saves with 75.
Top Drawer Soccer Top 100 Freshmen
Freshman defender Tyra Chu is ranked among the best freshmen in the country in Top Drawer Soccer's latest poll. Chu is No. 26 in the midseason rankings. This season, Chu has started and played in every game, missing only eight minutes of play. She has totaled 1,252 minutes in the backline so far.
Consistency is Key!
Kalal and fellow junior Kate Childers have made 53 consecutive appearances for the Maroon and Gold since their freshman year. Childers has started all 53 games in her career, while Kalal has started 40, including 36 straight dating back to last season.
Kalal leads the Gophers in points (13), goals (5), assists (3) and shots (35). Childers ranks second in assists (2), fourth in goals (2), and has played every minute of every game this season.
First Time B1G Opponents
This weekend's games mark the first time Minnesota will face Washington as a Big Ten opponent, and the first time it will play Oregon in program history. The Gophers and Huskies have met only once before in 1996, when Minnesota defeated Washington 2-1 in Portland, Oregon.
Highlights: Gophers 2, Washington 3
Friday, October 17
Highlights: Gophers 2, USC 1
Thursday, October 09
Highlights: Gophers 1, Michigan State 2
Thursday, September 25
Highlights: Gophers 2, Rutgers 1
Thursday, September 18