Minnesota beats #24 South Carolina 2-1 in OT. Taylor Uhl scored in the 1st minute, South Carolina tied it up right before halftime. Freshman Haley Helverson scored the game-winner in the first OT.
I spent the weekend in Bloomington and I have to say after watching Indiana torch a couple of non-conference opponents, they may well trouble some of the Big10 defenses this year. Last year's offense read Velasques, Nouanesengsy & Stamp with occasional support from others. Stamp graduated but the incoming freshman Jessie Bujouves looks the real deal, and better at holding the ball and linking midfield-attack than any of the above. She's a provider in the mode of last year's freshman Abby Smith, who may now actually find it hard to break into the lineup among all the attacking options. Add to them: Candler, finally back to full fitness; Woollums, stepping it up in her 2nd season; and Leist, back from two years of injury. All had their moments this past weekend, Candler consistently being a handful for whoever was marking her and Woollums showing flashes of a good future (great goal today). Suddenly the attacking half of the field looks creative and deeply rostered. Yes, the brittleness in defense remains but freshman Kaitlin O'Connor adds some steel that was missing before and keepers Shannon Flower (last years backup) and Sharon Stone (RS-Freshman) look as if they can keep Indiana in a few games just like Campbell did last season. Like last year, it may all come crashing down when they have to play Big10 opponents day-in and day-out, with the defense under more pressure than the mid-majors can apply to them. But I think there's a warning due some of the other bottom-half Big10 teams whose coaches voted Indiana to finish last in the conference. This team can score.
Big Ten scores 8-19 Illinois 1 Illinois State 1 Indiana 4 Ohio 2 Iowa 3 North Dakota 0 Michigan 1 Pittsburgh 0 Michigan State 2 Fordham 1 Minnesota 2 South Carolina 1 Drake 1 Nebraska 0 Northwestern 2 Kansas 1 OT Rutgers 1 Ohio State 0 OT Penn State 5 St. John's 0 Purdue 2 Eastern Illinois 1 OT Wisconsin 5 South Dakota St 0 Big win for Minnesota after their narrow loss to FSU on Friday night. Tough start to the season for OSU with a pair of road losses in games they needed to win. A nice result for Northwestern to start their season. Thanks for the report on IU. They definitely have some talent on offense, but it largely disappeared last season in league play (8 goals in 11 games). Meanwhile, the defense concedes two to Ohio this afternoon, which is probably a mid-table team in the MAC. Could this team be like Nebraska was last season? A chance to score four every game, but also a chance to concede five? Speaking of the Huskers...tough loss to Drake to move to 0-2.
Good start for Wisconsin. They seem to be creating more scoring opportunities this year. It's too bad they didn't get Diamond Simpson but Kinley McNichol is a new player to keep an eye on.
Big Ten award winners for week one from Indiana, Michigan and Penn State: http://www.bigten.org/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/082012aac.html Not to take anything away from the other honorees, but very happy to see Holly Hein back on the field and playing well after she missed last season recovering from cancer. In case you don't recall her story: http://michigantoday.umich.edu/2011/10/story.php?id=8073
Here's this week's Soccer America Top 25. Very volatile this early in the season, and because they had Notre Dame rated so highly last week, Wisconsin is getting some serious love this week: http://www.socceramerica.com/article/47850/soccer-america-womens-top-25.html
Ha Marquette was getting destroyed by Florida State until the game was called for lightning. So logically they move up 5 spots. Rankings shouldn't be released til week 4.
I think it is a little early in the season to put the Nittany Lions at #3. I think we should see after the next 2 weeks.
Taylor Uhl was named CollegeSoccer360.com Primetime Player of the Week: http://collegesoccer360.com/cs360_blog/Primetime_2012_DIW_A.html Mallory Weber of Penn State also made the Weekly Honor Roll.
Minnesota is leading USD 2-0 at halftime in San Diego. Really a dominating first half by the Gophers, outshooting the Toreros 12-1 and controlling play. Goals by Uhl and Brandt.
This is quickly looking like last year as Minnesota falls to USD 3-2 in OT. Defensive miscues, unable to defend corners or score on corners. Better change that fast or it's going to be another losing season.
Finals 8/24 Illinois 1 UC Santa Barbara 0 South Florida 3 Indiana 0 Iowa 4 Loyola IL 0 Michigan 2 Cal State Fullerton 1 Michigan State 3 Loyola MD 1 San Diego 3 Minnesota 2 OT Virginia Tech 3 Nebraska 2 Northwestern 2 Miami OH 1 Ohio State 3 Northeastern 0 Stanford 3 Penn State 2 Louisville 4 Purdue 3 Didn't get to watch it, but looks like that Penn State-Stanford game was a good one. Lots of near misses, with Minnesota, Purdue and Nebraska all falling to NCAA Tourney teams from last season by one goal.
Minnesota beat USC 4-1 today in Los Angeles. Utilized a new strategy today, letting the other team score first rather than blowing a lead . After USC scored in the 25th minute, Minnesota answered with goals in the 26th and 27th minutes by Uhl and Strahota. The Gophers put away the Women of Troy in the 2nd half with two insurance goals with Phillips assisting Uhl on one and Uhl returning the favor to Phillips on the second. A 2-2-0 start to the season with a tough schedule has to be considered a success despite blowing two 2 goal leads. Taylor Uhl has 5 goals and 2 assists already and has scored in 8 straight games for Minnesota dating back to last year, a school record.
An impressive win by the Gophers. Some impressive performances this season. Are they emerging as a contender for the B1G title?
I don't know if they're contenders yet, but they should be quite good. If they can tighten up the defense before the conference starts they should be in the upper third. Uhl is off to a fantastic start, and an elite striker can cure many ills.
Finals Sunday 8/26 UCLA 2 Illinois 0 Indiana 4 Missouri St 1 Iowa 3 UNI 0 Michigan 1 Detroit 0 Cal St Fullerton 1 Michigan St 0 Minnesota 4 USC 1 Nebraska 2 New Mexico 0 Dayton 5 Northwestern 2 Ohio State 1 Maryland 0 Penn State 5 Central Michigan 0 Wisconsin 4 Loyola IL 0 Big win for Ohio State today after a couple of subpar performances to start the season, they've evened their record at 2-2. Gophers showing they can score some goals early in the season. We'll see how big a win it is at the end of the season, but they ended a very tough four-game stretch 2-2. Penn State showed no hangover after a heartbreaking loss to Stanford on Friday. Illinois was competitive for much of the game in Westwood, but couldn't pull the upset.
Thanks for the shout out about Kristin. Unfortunately, it appears that she will not get the opportunity to make that difference.
Minnesota thrashed Bowling Green tonight by a score of 7-0. Dominating performance from the opening whistle as Allie Phillips got the Gophers on the board in the first 10 minutes for the 4th time in 5 games. Taylor Uhl scored in her 10th straight game for Minnesota, and finished with 3 goals and an assist in a little over 60 minutes. She has 8 goals and 3 assists on the season. Other goals on the nights were by Haley Helverson, Taylor Wodnick and Allie Reinke got on the board in her first career match. Senior Marissa Price chipped in two assists. Cat Parkhill and freshman Kristen Knutson combined for the shutout in goal. Minnesota faces Western Kentucky on Labor Day.
New blog entry on the Illini and the Big Ten: http://www.illinihq.com/blogs/molines-musings/2012-08/split-out-west.html
It's amazing they're doing so well. They don't have either Kelter sister. What happened to Catie Sessions?
Minnesota beat Western Kentucky 1-0 this afternoon. WKU played a bunker defense and pretty much stymied a Gopher offense that had exploded on Thursday night. Minnesota finally broke through in the 52nd minute when Taylor Uhl fed Katie Thyken for the lone goal of the match. Minnesota outshot the Hilltoppers 17-3. Next up: San Diego State