Gophers Dominate but Come Away with Draw in Illinois
Courtesy: University of Minnesota Gophersports.com - 09/27/2009
Champaign, Ill. – The University of Minnesota Soccer team garnered their second tie of the season today (Sept. 27) with a 2-2 draw with Illinois in Big Ten action.
After a 1-1 opening half, two quick scores in the second half led to a 2-2 mark early in the period.
The second half began with two goals in a span of three minutes, unfortunately for Minnesota, only one of the goals belonged to them. The Golden Gophers struck in the first minute of the 2nd half with Tamara Strahota (Burnsville, Minn.) scoring her second of the year off a pass from Shari Eckstrom (Brooklyn Park, Minn.).
After the quick strike from Minnesota, Illinois answered right back with a goal in the 48th minute to tie the game again, at two-goals apiece. The teams settled down after the second goal, and play in the second half reverted back more like that of the first with defense being the story.
The remainder of the half was a struggle offensively for each team as the two defenses controlled the play, keeping the offenses in check.
Illinois struck first, becoming the first team in 2009 to score on Minnesota in the first half. In the 16th minute, the Illini took their first lead of the game.
The Golden Gophers were not down for long though, as Olivia Bagnall (Lakeville, Minn.) scored her first career goal in the 34th minute, late in the first. A corner kick from Katie Bethke (Eau Claire, Wis.) began the play, and a header by Kylie Kallman (Woodbury, Minn.) sent the goal to Bagnall.
The Golden Gophers held an 8-to-1 edge in corners in the first half, including four on their first possession of the match. Minnesota also outshot Illinois 7-to-2 in the period, but Illini keeper Alexandra Kapicka was to the challenge with three saves.
Minnesota moves to 7-2-2 on the season while Illinois is now 5-3-2.
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