Minnesota Soccer Wins Big Ten Home Opener

Via Twitter.com/GopherSoccer

Minnesota Standout junior Simone Kolander added two more goals to her season total and now leads the Gophers with seven goals on the year. Both of Kolander's goals came in the first half. The Gophers got out to an early start as Kolander's first goal was in the 4th minute. Her second goal would come sixteen minutes later in the 20th minute off an assist by sophomore Maddie Gaffney.  Sopmore Sydney Squires almost added a third goal but her hard shot hit the right post and bounced out. Purdue and Minnesota both had some more chances in the first half but good goal tending, especially by Tarah Hobbs, kept the score at 2-0 in favor of Minnesota.

Minnesota vs Nebraska-Omaha; Photo by Rolf Addy (Norsk_Gopher)

In the second half things got a little more physical with a corresponding increase in penalties (not sure if a Minnesota player received a yellow card). Both sides had opportunities but for a while there was no goals. That ended when Minnesota committed a penalty in the box and Purdue capitalized on a penalty kick in the 69th minute, preventing Hobbs from getting another shutout. Nine minutes the Gophers would answer with a goal by Squires (who is now alone at second on the team with 3 goals on the season) off of a corner kick by true freshman April Bockin. While there was more opportunites for both teams, that would be where the game ended, at 3-1 Minnesota over Purdue.

Minnesota next takes on the Indiana Hoosiers at ELR Stadium (home for the Gophers) this Sunday at 1:00 pm.

A word from the Minnesota goalkeeper:

Love this team and the places we are headed this year. Got another W in the books @GopherSoccer we are #unbreakable

— Tarah Hobbs #00 (@THobbs_00) September 26, 2015