The 6-seeded Gophers upset #3 South Carolina and advances
Gopher Soccer is having a fantastic season.
Non-revenue programs get minimal coverage here for several reasons, but the women’s soccer team deserves your attention.
In a stacked Big Ten, the club finished 7th in conference and were one of 10 conference teams to make the NCAA Tournament. During the season they tied #22 USC on the road, beat #8 Ohio State, also on the road and beat #11 Iowa in the last game of the season.
Senior Khyah Harper, from Centennial High School, was the Big Ten’s Forward of the year and was joined by Sophia Boman on the 1st team All-Big.
The team earned a 6-seed in the NCAA Tournament, dispatching South Dakota in the firs round and setting up a tough matchup with 3rd seed and #14 ranked, South Carolina. They were down 1-nill early when the Gamecock’s scored just 8:15 into the match. And it remained 1-0 until Boman hit the equalizer on a penalty kick at the 58:53 mark. And Sophia Romine hit the game-winner in the 69th minute.
A big upset and the Gophers advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2010. No Gopher squad has advanced beyond the 3rd round of the NCAA Tournament.
Up next is 2-seed and #8 nationally, North Carolina. The Tar Heels snuck by Santa Clara 1-0 to secure a spot in the 3rd round.