A goal in the first half for Nebraska put the Gophers behind early in their afternoon game against the Cornhuskers on Thursday, but a comeback in the second period prevented a loss for the Gophers.Just twenty minutes into the game,  the Cornhuskers were Nebraska’s Meg Brandt was able to sneak a rebounded ball into the net after Minnesota goalkeeper Maddie Nielsen made the initial save.

  Even with the disadvantage on the scoreboard, Minnesota was able to put the pressure on the Cornhuskers in the later minutes of the first half, earning two corner kicks and registering two shots after the Nebraska goal. 

  Minnesota continued their offensive press in the second half, and elven minutes in Minnesota was able to tie the score after defending a corner kick and taking it back the other way. Captain Nikki Albrecht took the ball in herself from midfield and launched a shot from above the box that went right between the legs of Nebraska goalie Aubrei Corder.

  Albrecht said that in the halftime break the team talked about the importance of putting more shots on frame to test the Nebraska goalie, and that on the scoring play she saw a “giant hole”, saying, “All I need to do is keep it low and hit it on frame and see what the keeper can do… it was nice to be able to test her.” 

  Even with many chances for a second goal, Minnesota needed overtime to decide the result. In the first overtime, Minnesota regained control of the game after a few early shots from the Cornhuskers. There were several near-goal plays, with Linnea Yacovella and Katie Duong getting shots. In the second overtime period maintained their offensive pressure until the clock ran out making three shots and a corner kick in the last three minutes, but the game would end in a 1-1 tie. 

 The tie comes after three scoreless games for Minnesota, and Head Coach Stefanie Golan said the second half comeback and that momentum carrying into their next game was important, and also offered perspective on the team’s performance, “If we start [the game] that way, maybe we put ourselves in a different position… So our focus now has to be to continue to build off of the momentum we created in the second half and into the overtimes.” said Golan.

 Minnesota will be back at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium for their final home game against Iowa  on Sunday, October 20 at 1pm