Late Goal Eliminates Minnesota From Women’s NCAA Tournament
Georgetown 1-0 Minnesota
Georgetown keeper Jackie DesJardin makes a diving save to keep Minnesota off the scoreboard. All photos by Jeremy Olson - www.digitalgopher.net
The University of Minnesota women’s soccer team saw their chance at advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament for the first time in the team’s history slip away after Georgetown scored a surprising late goal to give them the lead and the game. “I knew it would come down to a moment of brilliance or a moment of good fortune,” said Georgetown coach Dave Nolan after the game, “it was a tough game and a difficult way [for Minnesota] to lose.”
The first half began at a quick pace despite the wind and low temperatures typical of a Minnesota November providing unfavorable playing conditions and a field surface that both coaches described as “difficult” to play on. Both teams traded possession and a few attacking runs, but it was Georgetown that had the first dangerous opportunities.
Georgetown midfielder Samantha Baker caught the attention of the Minnesota fans and players when she stepped up to take a series of throw-ins that were as good as free kicks, giving Georgetown another weapon to use in a game that was difficult to gain an advantage during the run of play. “We knew it would be a set piece war,” said Minnesota’s coach Mikki Denney Wright, “and her throws were just as good.” Despite the dangerous services, Gopher keeper Cat Parkhill and her defense were able to clear the balls away from goal.
Georgetown’s best chance of the half came when midfielder Ingrid Wells fired a shot towards the near post from the top of the penalty box. Parkhill reacted well to the shot, but did not need to make a save as she watched the ball go over the crossbar.
Minnesota responded well to Georgetown’s pressing and eventually turned the remainder of the first half in their favor and came up with some near chances of their own. After winning a free-kick right in front of the Gopher bench (who were up on their feet for the entirety of the game cheering on their team and trying to keep warm) Shari Eckstrom nearly connected with fellow midfielder Kylie Kallman, but Georgetown keeper Jackie DesJardin reacted quickly and made a diving save on Kallman’s header.
In the final moments of the first half it looked as though the Gophers were going to pull ahead. During an offensive build-up, a through ball was sent in to forward Katie Bethke. Bethke continued her run to goal with just the keeper to beat and two defenders closing in. Bethke tried to send her shot to the far post, but missed wide.
The Gophers took charge of the game in the second half, out-shooting their opponents 7-4. Minnesota’s first real chances came within ten minutes of the start of the half. Forward Steph Brandt made a long run with the ball well into the penalty box and fed the ball to Bethke who had her shot blocked by a defender, and then the follow up was sent just wide of the post.
Samantha Baker baker gets the ball through traffic and past Gopher goalkeeper Cat Parkhill for the game winner in the last minute of play. Photo by Jeremy Olson.
The Gophers continued to test the keeper and the Georgetown defense, but could not capitalize on any of their opportunities. Georgetown also struggled offensively, managing to only force Parkhill to make one save, thanks to the close marking and confident physical play of the Gopher defense.
As the clocked neared 90 minutes, it looked as though the game would be headed into overtime. However, with under a minute left Georgetown won their 5th corner kick of the game. Ingrid Wells took the kick and sent the ball into the box where it ended up on the turf. In a flurry of action in front of the goal, the ball found its way into the net with Samantha Baker credited with the goal. “When [the ball] comes into traffic anything can happen,” said Coach Nolan, and when asked what exactly happened during the play he replied “I wish I knew.” With only 44 seconds left in the game there wasn’t anything to be done to get the Gophers back into the game.
Despite the unlucky end to the game, Coach Wright kept things positive. “We’re proud of our team for getting here, no doubt about that,” said Coach Wright. “We had a very successful season, and [we're] proud of what the senior class has done for our program.”
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Georgetown was clearly a tough team, and the Gophers should not hang their heads. From what I saw, the Gophers were not as aggressive as they have been in the past matches I have watched, although I think that had more to do with the cold weather than bad play. (That ball had to of been really hard!) However, they were not winning 50/50 balls–especially toward the end of the match in their defending 1/3. In all, a good match with both teams dominating play at various times during the match.
I personally thought that the officiating was subpar at best. I went to SCSU/have no immediate connection to the U of M, so I was a complete neutral observer of the match. I thought Georgetown was playing a good physical match, and a foul or two should have warranted a yellow card. On the other hand, anytime a player wearing white stepped up the intensity the center ref seemed more than happy to award a free kick to the ladies in blue. Did anyone else see it that way?
I was also curious about ticket prices. When I was at the Creighton match, I thought I paid about $13 for my daughter and myself. I think this time it was $17 for the two of us. Don’t get me wrong, I thought $17 was cheap and a reasonable price, but I just thought the increase was interesting. I am confused.
In all, I made it to three matches and probably watched about three more on TV. I will do a better job in 2011 in supporting the women Gophers. I would encourage soccer coaches (especially girls coaches) to get their kids to these matches. It is a higher level of soccer in my book.
PS: I do think oversized rodents have no place at a soccer match. Yeah, we are all suppose to like Goldie, however, it is rather annoying having him jump up and down and run around in front of people trying to watch a match. I do think a reasonable compromise would be to add a beer garden if he is allowed to stay. They really need to add more of a “soccer atmosphere” to the place to make it “fun.”
Soccer Boy – good summary let me add my 2 cents and you can have change back if you like.
1. Ticket Prices – probably set by the NCAA rather than the U
2. There was no home field advantage besides not having to travel. I agree about Goldy- but I think the person being Goldy gets a college credit or two for participation. There was sure not an organized support for our team coming from the stands. if you were a neutral party you would not be able to tell who was playing at home
3. Seemed like GU adapted better to the conditions than our MN bred players as the game proceeded
4. our team was too predictable and very uninterested in the off the ball play. It is hard to cause too much concern when you are attacking with 2-3 less than GU was defending with. The outside backs did not get into the attack too frequently. GU got numbers behind the ball when defending and numbers into the attack better than our ladies did.
5. Gophs missed the play of Ms. Rouse
6. It should not take 3 passes to change the point of attack even in the cold weather. quicker decisions on and off the ball were absent.
7. #9 and #14 ( Ingrid) for GU were the deciding factors in the game for GU. # 9 was the best player on the field in all respects to the game.
8. winning goal subsequently started with a midfield foul and free kick for GU that was taken while the ball was rolling. Ref was lazy in this instance in enforcing a correct taking of a free kick. The rest of the game I did not have a problem with the officiating
9. If you know that #14 was going to provide too many dangerous set piece opportunities lets not give away throw ins and corner kicks as freely as we did.
Baily’s and Coffee tasted sooooo good after the game as did the home made lefse
The sun will come up tomorrow and there will be a new season next year. U of M took it to the limit but the better team won today.
GU is eliminated the next round
tomASS, I agree with your comments. Per #5, there was something missing in the midfield with Molly Rouse being out for the match. From the few matches I have been to and watched on TV, she did an excellent job controlling things and also distributing the ball. It also seemed like the Gophers were not getting numbers forward. They would play the ball into #3 (sorry, I forget her name), and there really were not a lot of options for her besides playing the ball back.
I wonder if the Dark Clouds would be interested in getting more supporters out to the matches to create some atmosphere. Would they let you bring a drum or some other noisemaker in. The way I see it, the PA volume is so obnoxiously loud that anything else should not be that big of a deal.
@SB as you probably saw GU’s attack and defending always had the Gophers outnumbered in that portion of the field. The Gophers never had the advantage in numbers in the small field battles