University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, September 18
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Rutgers
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Photo by: Christopher Mitchell
Gophers Look Ahead to Split Conference Weekend
9/17/2025 1:12:00 PM | Soccer
Minnesota will host Rutgers on Thursday and travel to Iowa City on Sunday
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota women's soccer team looks ahead to a split week against Big Ten opponents Rutgers and No. 11 Iowa. The Golden Gophers host the Scarlet Knights at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday night at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. They'll hit the road to face the 11th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT in Iowa City.
Minnesota (4-2-1, 0-0-1 B1G) vs. Rutgers (2-0-4, 0-0-1 B1G)
Date: Sept. 18
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
Minnesota (4-2-1, 0-0-1 B1G) vs. No. 11 Iowa (5-1-2, 0-0-1 B1G)
Date: Sept. 21
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Rock the Robbie!
Let's Rock the Robbie against Rutgers! Tickets are only $7.50 as we look to pack Elizabeth Lyle Robbie stadium for the Big Ten home opener. Students who arrive early will receive a Gopher Soccer bucket hat and a concession voucher for a FREE hot dog!
Scouting the Scarlet Knights
Thursday marks Rutgers' first road Big Ten match to begin conference play after tying Michigan State 1-1 in Piscataway last Friday. Nata Ramirez scored the lone goal, while goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer made three saves.
The Scarlet Knights are one of three Big Ten teams, along with Nebraska and Illinois, that are undefeated to start the season, holding a 2-0-4 record. Rutgers has picked up wins over NJIT and Princeton. Bodmer has three clean sheets this season and holds a 92.9 save percentage. Ramirez leads the offense with two goals, while five other Scarlet Knights have scored once.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2023 season. In 2023, the Gophers tied then-No. 8 Rutgers in Piscataway to earn a point on the road. It marked the first time Minnesota picked up a result against a top opponent since Northwestern on Oct. 16, 2018, when the Wildcats were ranked No. 12.
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Before hosting Minnesota on Sunday, Iowa will travel to West Lafayette, Indiana, to face the Purdue Boilermakers. Iowa opened the Big Ten season with a tie at home against Northwestern last Thursday. Millie Greer scored the game-tying goal in the 74th minute.
The Hawkeyes have held a top-15 ranking since the beginning of the season, starting the year at No. 9. They hold a 5-1-2 record, including a win over then-No. 6 Arkansas on the road. Iowa's only loss came against then-No. 7 TCU, 3-2.
Sweet Caroline!
Redshirt sophomore Caroline Birdsell scored her second goal of the season at Nebraska on Thursday. Birdsell scored 47 seconds into the match, marking the fastest goal by a Gopher since Olivia Schultz, who scored 33 seconds into the game against Stetson on Aug. 22, 2014.
Super Sarah
Redshirt sophomore Sarah Martin has been a mainstay in net this season for Minnesota. The Champlin, Minnesota, native leads the Big Ten in saves (36) and saves per game (5.14). Martin recorded a career-high nine saves against BYU to open the season and a career-high eight saves on the road at Brown.
Minnesota (4-2-1, 0-0-1 B1G) vs. Rutgers (2-0-4, 0-0-1 B1G)
Date: Sept. 18
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
Minnesota (4-2-1, 0-0-1 B1G) vs. No. 11 Iowa (5-1-2, 0-0-1 B1G)
Date: Sept. 21
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Rock the Robbie!
Let's Rock the Robbie against Rutgers! Tickets are only $7.50 as we look to pack Elizabeth Lyle Robbie stadium for the Big Ten home opener. Students who arrive early will receive a Gopher Soccer bucket hat and a concession voucher for a FREE hot dog!
Scouting the Scarlet Knights
Thursday marks Rutgers' first road Big Ten match to begin conference play after tying Michigan State 1-1 in Piscataway last Friday. Nata Ramirez scored the lone goal, while goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer made three saves.
The Scarlet Knights are one of three Big Ten teams, along with Nebraska and Illinois, that are undefeated to start the season, holding a 2-0-4 record. Rutgers has picked up wins over NJIT and Princeton. Bodmer has three clean sheets this season and holds a 92.9 save percentage. Ramirez leads the offense with two goals, while five other Scarlet Knights have scored once.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2023 season. In 2023, the Gophers tied then-No. 8 Rutgers in Piscataway to earn a point on the road. It marked the first time Minnesota picked up a result against a top opponent since Northwestern on Oct. 16, 2018, when the Wildcats were ranked No. 12.
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Before hosting Minnesota on Sunday, Iowa will travel to West Lafayette, Indiana, to face the Purdue Boilermakers. Iowa opened the Big Ten season with a tie at home against Northwestern last Thursday. Millie Greer scored the game-tying goal in the 74th minute.
The Hawkeyes have held a top-15 ranking since the beginning of the season, starting the year at No. 9. They hold a 5-1-2 record, including a win over then-No. 6 Arkansas on the road. Iowa's only loss came against then-No. 7 TCU, 3-2.
Sweet Caroline!
Redshirt sophomore Caroline Birdsell scored her second goal of the season at Nebraska on Thursday. Birdsell scored 47 seconds into the match, marking the fastest goal by a Gopher since Olivia Schultz, who scored 33 seconds into the game against Stetson on Aug. 22, 2014.
Super Sarah
Redshirt sophomore Sarah Martin has been a mainstay in net this season for Minnesota. The Champlin, Minnesota, native leads the Big Ten in saves (36) and saves per game (5.14). Martin recorded a career-high nine saves against BYU to open the season and a career-high eight saves on the road at Brown.
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