Gophers Take Montana 1-0 in Final of Gold Classic
Courtesy: University of Minnesota 09/20/2009
St. Paul, Minn. – The University of Minnesota soccer team made it two wins on the weekend after taking down visiting Montana 1-0 in the finale of the Minnesota Gold Classic this afternoon (Sept. 18). A lone first half goal was made good by the Golden Gophers suffocating defense, which allowed a season low one shot by the Grizzlies.
“I think we dominated play, it was just a matter of executing,” head coach Mikki Denney Wright said after the game. “I think we had 31 shots, I wish we would have finished a bit more, but I think at anytime you’re just happy for the win.”
In the end the Minnesota (6-2-1) held a vast advantage in shots, firing off 31 in the match, to the one taken by Montana (2-7-0). The lead in shots led to a similar difference in shots on goal, as the Golden Gophers put 11 on net while the Grizzlies had none.
The offensive pressure was on early for Minnesota, and Katie Bethke (Eau Claire, Wis.) provided enough punch to crack Montana defense in just the 19th minute of the game. After taking an up-field pass from Julie Rezac (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Bethke uncorked the shot from over 20-yards out and snuck the ball in the top right corner of the goal, giving the Golden Gophers the 1-0 lead at the 18:11 mark.
The goal was the sixth of the season for Bethke, giving her a new career high as she betters the five she scored in her freshman season in 2007. The junior would go on to finished the day with a game and career high nine shots, including four on goal, as she led the Golden Gophers’ attack all afternoon. The nine shots also represent Minnesota’s best individual single-game mark this season.
Joining Bethke in the onslaught of shots were Molly Rouse (Cambridge, Minn.) and Tamara Strahota (Burnsville, Minn.) who each finished the day with four. Of the 14 players who saw time on the field 11, took at least one shot in the match. The 31 tries for the Golden Gophers mark a new season high, and is the most since they notched 35 in a match last season on Sept. 5.
The defense was equally as dominant, as the one shot allowed is one of the best marks in Golden Gopher history. It is only been bettered by the five times Minnesota has held their opponent without a single shot.
“I thought our back three were tremendous today,” Denney Wright said. “Great with their distribution, great with their decision making, I thought they were excellent today, one of the best games I’ve seen from them. I was really proud of our back three.”
Cat Parkhill (Apple Valley, Minn.) earned her sixth win of the season in the net, and it would be tough for it to come any easier. Parkhill was rarely under pressure in the game, as a large majority of play took place in Montana’s defensive end. The only shot Parkhill saw came off the Grizzlies only corner of the day in the first half. The Golden Gophers held a 10-to-1 advantage in corners on the day as well.
Parkhill has now played 830:00 minutes this season, meaning her 0.65 goals against average can qualify for the rankings of the best single season. As it stands today, Parkhill’s mark would be the second best in Golden Gopher history, behind the 0.45 put up past season by Lindsey Dare.
Minnesota come away with two wins on a weekend for the first time this season, and will carry the momentum into their Big Ten opener later this week. On Thursday, Sept. 24, Minnesota welcome’s their neighbor to the south, as Iowa makes the trip to the Robbie for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. Last season the Golden Gophers bettered the Hawkeyes 1-0 in Iowa City, making it four wins the last five meetings.
The official defense of the Golden Gophers 2008 Big Ten title begins with the conference opener, against the same team they beat the secure their crown last season.
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