Oct. 9: vs. Iowa
A week after their loss to Wisconsin, Gophers soccer took on Iowa Sunday afternoon. Not only was this matchup significant for Minnesota’s playoff push, but it was honoring the Gophers’ senior class. Both teams put on a show for this Senior Day contest.
In the 23rd minute, graduate Gabbie Cesarone finished a broken corner kick from McKenna Buisman. The ball pinballed off of two Iowa players and landed in front of Cesarone, who placed a shot between Iowa’s goalkeeper and defender. Buisman’s assist on the game-winner was her third of the year.
Cesarone’s fourth goal of the season stood as the lone goal in this match as the Gophers shut out the Hawkeyes 1-0. This improved Minnesota’s record to 2-4-0 in the Big Ten standings.
Senior goalkeeper Megan Plaschko was outstanding on Senior Day, stopping all six shots she faced and earning her fifth shutout of the season. Plaschko received her fourth Goalkeeper of the Week honor for her perfect game.
Cesarone and Plaschko were both featured in the Big Ten’s weekly soccer honors. Cesarone received her first Defensive Player of the Week honor for her efforts in the Gophers’ victory over Iowa.
Formerly one spot below Iowa in the Big Ten standings, Minnesota now resides two spots above Iowa in ninth place.
Minnesota’s next matchup is on Thursday against Rutgers University where the Gophers will travel to Piscataway, New Jersey.
The Scarlet Knights are ranked eighth on the United Soccer Coaches’ NCAA national ranking. Rutgers is 3-1-1 in their last five games and has won two games in a row coming into Thursday’s match. The Scarlet Knights are going to be a difficult opponent as they tied first-place team Northwestern 1-1 in late September. However, there are cracks in this Rutgers squad as the team fell 0-2 to seventh place Penn State.
Minnesota has not won a game against Rutgers since the 2018 season; the Gophers upset the no. 2 seed Scarlet Knights, 1-0, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Eighth place University of Illinois sits between Minnesota and a playoff spot. Illinois won their most recent matchup against Purdue by a score of 2-1. Minnesota is one point behind Illinois, with six points and a 2-4-0 record. Illinois holds the advantage with one less loss than Minnesota, possessing a 2-3-1 record.
The Fighting Illini’s next game is against sixth-place Nebraska. If Illinois were to lose this game, and Minnesota wins against Rutgers, the Gophers would surpass the Fighting Illini in the standings and claim eighth place.
Minnesota faces Illinois in their last game of the season. With the two teams being neck-and-neck in the standings, this contest could determine who misses and makes the Big Ten tournament.
Preceding Minnesota’s match against Illinois are Purdue and Maryland. Purdue is dead last in the Big Ten with a record of 0-5-1, and Maryland sits in 12th place with a record of 1-5. For the Gophers, these games are both must-win. The team needs to rack up as many points as possible to make the Big Ten tournament.
