Katie Bethke Key Goal Leads Golden Gophers to Victory

8/30/09 -  Kennesaw, Ga.  Gophersports.com

Junior forward Katie Bethke

The 17th ranked University of Minnesota soccer team got back in the win column today (Aug. 30), earning 1-0 win over host Kennesaw State on a rain-soaked field at the KSU Soccer Complex.

A career day from Katie Bethke (Eau Claire, Wis.) was the difference in the match, as she collected the match’s lone goal and earned her first career game-winner in the process. She also unleashed a career high six total shots in the match and tied a career high with four shots on goal.

The start was delayed nearly an hour due to heavy rains, but the Golden Gophers were ready to go when the horn finally sounded. Minnesota (2-1-0) put the pressure on early, and did not let off the throttle for the duration. The Golden Gophers fired off 12 shots each in the first and second half.  Of their 24 shots, Minnesota landed 11 on goal, keeping Kennesaw State (1-2-0) goalkeeper Staci Pugh busy on her way to a school-record 10 saves.

“It was an exciting match,” head coach Mikki Denney Wright said. “I liked the way we attacked, and created a lot of chances. We played well today, and it’s good to get a win.”

It was a different story on the other end of the field, as the Golden Gopher defense held the Owls to just three shots in the match, and only one on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Cat Parkhill (Apple Valley, Minn.) earned the second shutout of her young career, stopping the only shot she saw.

Despite playing scoreless soccer for nearly the entire match, the Golden Gophers were not without their chances. Tamara Strahota (Burnsville, Minn.) got loose on a breakaway, but her shot went wide as she tried to give her team the early lead.
Strahota was in the mix again later in the match, sending a pass across to Angie Olson (Eagan, Minn.) in front of the net, but her shot also missed wide. Then the breakthrough finally came at the 84:17 mark.

Bethke took a pass from Allie Phillips (Vadnais Heights, Minn.), and got enough to slip the ball past Pugh. On its way to Bethke, Phillips made a nice play on the ball, sending it through the Owl defense. Bethke went to the right for the score, taking the team lead with four points in the process.

At 2-1-0, Minnesota gets to return to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium for a pair of matches this weekend when they host Tennessee at 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 4, and North Dakota State at 1:00 p.m. on Sept. 6. The matchup with Tennessee will be a clash of 2008 conference champions, as the Volunteers won the SEC last season. Admission for the match is $1.00 for everyone, and it should be an exciting night.

“We’re looking forward now to this weekend and Tennessee,” Denney Wright said. “It should be a great game against another quality opponent, and with $1.00 tickets, we hope to have a great crowd out at the Robbie to cheer us on.”