The University of Minnesota Soccer team has picked up the No. 7 seed in the 2024 Big Ten Soccer Tournament. The Golden Gophers will face the No. 10 seeded Nittany Lions this Thursday at home.
#7 Minnesota (12-3-3, 6-3-2 B1G) vs #10 Penn State (11-5-3, 5-4-2 B1G)
Date: Oct. 31
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
Last Time Out: Penn State
This is the second time the Gophers and Nittany Lions will face each other. Earlier this month, Minnesota traveled to University Park and fell to then ranked No. 20 Penn State. The Big Ten foes scored two goals each in the first half and things stayed even for both teams in the majority of the final minutes. With eight minutes left, Penn State scored the go ahead goal for the win.
As a team, the Golden Gophers outshot the Nittany Lions 13-11 (8-5 S.O.G.). Senior Khyah Harper led the way for Minnesota, scoring one goal and dishing out three shots on net. Graduate Sophia Romine followed behind, scoring a goal unassisted and tallying two shots.
B1G Tournament Hosts
The University of Minnesota soccer team will be hosting the opening and quarterfinal rounds of the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Tournament. USC, UCLA, Iowa, Michigan State, Rutgers, Washington, Minnesota, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Penn State all earned a bid to the postseason last week.
Teams that advance from the quarterfinals advance to the semifinal and championship match at CITYPARK Stadium in St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 7-10.
On the National Stage
After pushing past No. 11 Iowa last week, Minnesota has been nationally recognized by Top Drawer Soccer and United Soccer Coaches. In TDS’s Top 25 poll, Minnesota sits at No. 15 while only receiving votes in the USC poll. Notably, the Gophers’ RPI made a jump from 28 to 22.
Undefeated at Home
With the conclusion of the 2024 regular season, Head Coach Erin Chastain has led Minnesota to its first undefeated home season since 2008. In addition, Chastain is the first head coach to guide the Gophers to two top 15 wins in a single year.
B1G Defensive Player of the Week
After scoring the game-winning goal against No. 11 Iowa on Sunday, defensive midfielder Sophia Boman has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
The weekly award is the first this season for Boman and second of her career. The graduate earned Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors in 2022.
Along with scoring the game-winning goal, a penalty kick in the 65th minute, Boman led the Golden Gophers in shots on goal (2). The Edina, Minn., native prevented multiple Hawkeye chances and led Minnesota to handing No. 11 Iowa its second loss of the season. With the win, the Gophers also clinched two top 15 wins in a season for the first time in program history.
Minute by Minute
Boman has totaled 7,451:32 minutes in her career as a Gopher. Currently, the midfielder has 29 consecutive matches (dating back to last season) that she has competed for a full 90 minutes. The captain has started all 83 matches since her freshman season and has competed in every game fully except for nine. In total, Boman has only missed 154 minutes on the field.
Numbers to Know
0: Minnesota has stayed undefeated at home, posting zero losses on its home turf.
1: Senior Khyah Harper stays atop in the stats and leads the country
total points (40) and points per game (2.22 average). She sits at second in goals per game (0.94 average) and total goals (17).
4: Four members of the soccer team have seen the field every minute this season. Sarah Martin, Elizabeth Overberg, Jelena Zbiljic and Sophia Boman. Freshman Ashley Thurk is just shy by 11 minutes.
7: Seven Gophers this season have at least four points on the year. Three have at least 10, while Harper has 39.
8: Sophomore Paige Kalal has assisted nine goals this season, ranking her eighth in the country and second in the Big Ten.
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
