The University of Minnesota soccer team continues its postseason conquest this weekend to face No. 3 seed/No. 14 South Carolina in Chapel Hill in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championships. Kick off is set for 1 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 22 at Dorrance Field and can be streamed live on ESPN+.
#6 Seed Minnesota (13-4-3, 6-3-2 B1G) vs #3 Seed/#14 South Carolina (11-3-7, 5-2-3 SEC)
Date: Nov. 22
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Stream: ESPN+
Venue: Dorrance Field
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Scouting the Gamecocks
Last week, South Carolina defeated Eastern Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, 6-0. Freshman Shea Collins finished her second hat trick of the season while a brace from fifth-year Cat Barry and a goal from goalkeeper Taylor Fox secured the win. Barry’s brace helped her take the program record in career goals with 51.
This season, South Carolina reached the championship game of the SEC Tournament falling to Texas. Despite the loss, the Gamecocks have won two SEC Tournament titles in the last four seasons. The NCAA berth is the 17th in program history for South Carolina, 2024 marked its 12th straight season reaching the tournament.
Series History
Friday night’s contest will be the third time the Gophers will face the Gamecocks. Minnesota holds a 2-0 record, with wins coming in 2010 and 2012. Minnesota first beat South Carolina 3-1 in 2010, while the 2012 match up was clinched in overtime, 2-1.
Last Time Out
Last weekend, No. 6 seed Minnesota defeated South Dakota State in the opening round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championships. The victory marked head coach Erin Chastain’s first career NCAA Tournament win.
Graduate Sophia Boman scored both goals. The first was a run of play goal assisted by Kate Childers and Paige Kalal. The second, a penalty kick.
A Season to Remember
The No. 6 seed is another feather in head coach Erin Chastain’s hat on the 2024 season. Along with the at-large bid, Chastain led her alma mater to an undefeated regular home season (7-0-2 at ELR), five student-athletes honored by the Big Ten including Forward of the Year in Khyah Harper, and grabbing two top 15 wins for the first time in program history.
National Tournament History
This season marked Minnesota’s 13th appearance in the Big Dance, now holding a 10-10-1 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Gophers’ longest runs came during the 2008 and 2010 seasons, when the Maroon and Gold reached the Sweet Sixteen, including hosting Georgetown in 2008.
Postseason Honors
Along with Khyah Harper earning Big Ten Forward of the Year, four other Gophers earned conference recognition. Harper and Sophia Boman received First Team All-Big Ten nods while Paige Kalal was named Second Team All-Big Ten. Ashley Thurk was recognized to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and Elizabeth Overberg capped things off with the Sportsmanship Award.
Academic Awards
Six Gophers earned CSC Academic All-District honors this week on Wednesday. Kate Childers, Elizabeth Overberg, Evelyn Calhoon, Khyah Harper, Sophia Boman, and Sophia Romine were all selected. The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Women’s Soccer Team, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
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.
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
