In the 10th women’s soccer border battle, the Gophers pulled off an important 1-0 victory over Wisconsin.
Goalie Dana Larson and forward Nicole Lee led Minnesota to the shutout in the Gophers’ final Big Ten game of the season.
The lone goal came in the 55th minute when Lee banged in a shot from the top of the penalty box, over the hands of Wisconsin goalie Kelly Conway and into the top right corner of the net.
“This was a much-needed win,” said Lee. “It has been an up-and-don year, and we need to build momentum.”
Laurie Seidl and Liz Wagner picked up assists on Lee’s goal, her seventh of the season.
“I’m not concerned with the amount of goals that we score, as long as we win,” Gophers coach Sue Montagne said.
Minnesota outshot Wisconsin 19-9 in the game, but the Gophers only put seven shots on goal.
With the win Minnesota finished the Big Ten regular season with a 6-4 record, good enough for fourth in the Big Ten, while Wisconsin dropped to 3-6-1 and into seventh in the final Big Ten standings.
The Gophers will face fifth-place Ohio State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
“It’s good to pick up some momentum finishing out the Big Ten season,” Montagne said. “Now we have to get ready for the tourney.”
ù Four different Gophers notched goals in leading Minnesota (10-6-0) to a 4-0 victory over Evansville in Evansville, Ind. on Sunday. Minnesota has posted shutout victories in its last three matches.
Minnesota took charge of the match early, netting three first-half goals among its nine shots taken in the opening period. Senior Megan Johnson collected the game winner just 7:57 into the match off an assist by Lee.
The four goals match the Gophers’ highest output of the season, accomplished earlier in a 4-0 victory over Purdue.
Minnesota will close out its regular season schedule next weekend with non-conference matches against Kentucky (Oct. 29) and Alabama (Oct. 30). Both matches will be played in Lexington, Ky.