Minnesota’s cross country teams travel to the University of Illinois Golf Course for the Big Ten championships on Sunday.

The Gophers women’s squad, led by 2000 freshman of the year Darja Vasiljeva, aim for a top-three finish for the fifth-straight year.

Will McComb will likely pace a men’s team in search of a top-half finish.

Soccer play pair at home

Minnesota’s soccer team missed out on a chance to reach its eighth straight Big Ten tournament with last weekend’s losses at Michigan and Michigan State, but the Gophers haven’t given up on the season yet.

Minnesota (4-10, 3-7 Big Ten), which plays its Alumni Game on Friday night and hosts Wisconsin-Milwaukee (12-3, 6-0 Horizon League) on Sunday, hopes to improve on a disappointing season with wins in its final three non-conference games.

Women’s hockey heads east

Minnesota (2-1-1) plays Mercyhurst College (2-3-0) in Erie, Pa., on Friday and Niagara University (2-0-0) on Saturday in New York.

Coach Laura Halldorson is giving rookie goaltender Brenda Reinen the nod to start against Mercyhurst. The starter against Niagara will be determined afterwards.

Both opponents received votes in the most recent top 10 poll.