Led by a brace from Katie Krohn, the University of Minnesota soccer team (1-0-0) shut out the North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0-1-0) 4-0 on Thursday evening before 617 fans at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.
Krohn led the Maroon and Gold with two goals, while Kate Childers and Davy Mokelke each added one. Tenley Senden and Ava Westlund recorded four shots apiece while 10 other Gophers registered shots on frame. Minnesota dominated the stat sheet, leading North Dakota in shots (31-7), shots on goal (16-4) and corner kicks (18-0).
Sawyer Danielson, Taylor Heimerl, Selah Koleth, Aaryn Gabriel and Westlund also tallied assists.
Goalkeeper Sarah Martin made four saves to earn her first shutout of the season. Jacqueline Gabbert subbed in during the 91st minute, making her first career appearance.
The Gopher offense struck early. Heimerl, a senior captain from Rosemount, Minn., delivered a corner kick in the third minute to Childers, who put Minnesota on the board, 1-0.
A minute later, Krohn scored the first of her two goals unassisted. The Maroon and Gold entered halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Krohn, a Schoharie, N.Y., native, finished her brace in the 49th minute with assists from Koleth and Westlund. Koleth sent a ball into the six-yard box where Westlund headed it to Krohn for the finish.
Mokelke, from Wayzata, Minn., secured the 4-0 victory in the 87th minute, scoring with her left foot off a long ball from Gabriel.
Minnesota returns to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 16, at noon to take on No. 19 Georgia.
(info and photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
