The Minnesota Gophers soccer team faced the Drake Bulldogs in a preseason exhibition in Des Moines, Iowa. Despite controlling the game and taking nearly four times as many shots, the Gophers were held scoreless in a draw.
When these two teams met last year in Minnesota, the Gophers dominated in a 8-0 win over the Bulldogs. With eight starters from the 2015 roster returning this year — including Simone Kolander who was recently named to the watch list for the MAC Hermann Trophy — expectations were high for a win.
The Gophers started Nikki Albrecht, Rashida Beal, Tori Burnett, Molly Fiedler, Emily Heslin, Tarah Hobbs, Kolander, Kellie McGahn, Sydney Squires, Josee Stiever, and Maddie Gaffney. The lineup represented the full range of experience of the team with freshman Albrecht appearing for the first time in maroon and gold alongside Kolander, a senior who has started each of the 63 games in her career at Minnesota.
Drake, in their second exhibition game in four days, started Alyssa Brand, Linda Fiorito, Kasey Hurt, Vanessa Kavan, Shelley Lyjak, Haley Morris, Sarah Grace Nicholson, Cassie Rohan, Brooke Salisbury, Ali Smith, and Hannah Wilder.
The match, divided in three 30-minute periods, was played mostly in Drake’s half with the Bulldogs holding off the Gophers’ attempts to break down their defense.
Both teams took advantage of the exhibition’s open substitution. Minnesota’s April Bockin, Mara Dougherty, Julianna Gernes, Megan Koenig, TJ McKendrick, Ashley Pafko, and Maya Rajacich all saw quality time on the pitch.
April Bockin made the biggest mark, tallying five of the Gophers’ 14 shots and half of the team’s six shots on goal. Despite the near-constant pressure and a frantic third period, Minnesota were unable to find the back of the net.
Up next: the Gophers will open their season on Friday, Aug. 19 when they travel to Lawrence, Kansas to face the Kansas Jayhawks. Kickoff is at 5:00 p.m.
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