Two more matches are under the Gophers belt as the team prepares for the start of the Big Ten season next week. First on the week Minnesota headed out to Provo, UT to meet the BYU Cougars before hosting the Twin Cities Derby against St. Thomas on Sunday evening. After a tight loss in Utah the Gophers came in and took a big victory over the Tommies at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium to wrap up the week.
Last Week
Gophers 0 – 1 #15 BYU Cougars
Minnesota held their own for almost the entire night in Provo, UT when facing the #15 ranked BYU Cougars. Neither team was able to score in the first half of football, with the Gophers keeping the Cougars scoreless for over 60 minutes. However one small deflection resulted in the only goal of the match. In the 78th minute a deflection of a ball in the box slipped past Gopher keeper Sarah Martin to put BYU on the board via an own goal.
Gophers 2 – 1 Tommies
After a rough loss in Utah the Gophers returned home for the Twin Cities Derby against the St. Thomas Tommies. St. Thomas came into the match without a win and left the same same. Nearly 1,000 fans packed into ELR to watch the Derby and 20 minutes into the match Ellen Neuharth opened the scoring for the Gophers. Minnesota was unable to put a second goal in during the first half, even after taking 15 shots in the half.
Caroline Birdsell scored a second goal for the hosts in the 50th minute, driving the match to 2–0 early in the second half. Six minutes later the Tommies Izzy McEwan put the Tommies on the board. But, similar to the first half, the Gophers put a number of shots on target, but could not find the back of goal for the second time in the half and third time overall, ending with a 2–1.
This Week
Gophers vs Colorado College - Sunday, 6 September at 1pm
Coming up for the Gophers is one final non-conference match as Minnesota hosts the Tigers of Colorado College. Women's soccer is one of two Division I sports at Colorado College, the other being men's ice hockey, while all other sports are played at the Division III level. The Tigers sit at 2-1-2 (W-D-L) on the season after three weeks and will face South Dakota State on Thursday, before meeting the Gophers on Sunday afternoon in St. Paul.
