Gophers Split Weekend of Big Ten Matches at Home

Taylor Wodnick slots in the game’s only goal on Sunday in front of a nice crowd at ELR. Photo Courtesy of Christopher Mitchell.

Two goals in two games. Unfortunately one was for the University of Minnesota Women’s Soccer Team and the other was against them. The Gopher split their two Big Ten conference matches this weekend at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium with 1-0 decisions in each match.

Friday night, the Gophers lost to Michigan 1-0 on a 32nd minute goal by Nkem Ezurike. A poor back pass allowed the Wolverines forward to race towards the ball as did Minnesota goalkeeper Cat Parkhill. The junior forward got past Parkhill and just had Gopher defender MacKenzie Misel to beat, which she did, scoring the game’s only goal.

The Wolverines outshot the Gophers 14-10 in a match that saw the lights go out at ELR in the 2nd half creating an odd atmosphere as 908 fans sat in the dark for almost 15 minutes before officials were ready to continue the match.

Game Stats

On Sunday, Minnesota regrouped and notched their first Big Ten win of the 2012 season in another 1-0 affair against a Michigan team. This time it was Michigan State and the goal belonged to Taylor Wodnick as she teamed up with another Taylor (Uhl) and Katie Thyken in just the 8th minute of play, which held up for the game winner.

The pair of weekend games puts the Gophers at 1-2-0 in the Big Ten conference and lands them in 10th place. The Gophers are now 6-5-0 on the season.

Game Stats

Minnesota will next face their neighbors and rivals, No. 14 Wisconsin, who comes to Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 27. The two face off in the annual Border Battle at 7 p.m., which has been named a “Gold Out” match.