Gophers Defeat Michigan 3-0 to Start Big Ten 2-0

Khyah Harper is a STAR

The Minnesota Golden Gophers soccer team has started the Big Ten season off with a 2-0 record after the Gophers shut out the Michigan Wolverines 3-0 in their home opener on Thursday night. All three goals were scored by Gopher senior forward Khyah Harper who recorded her third hat trick on the season and now leads the nation in goals with 12.

Minnesota got the first goal just three minutes into the game when freshman Caroline Birdsell sent a perfect cross pass across the goal mouth where Harper tapped it past the Wolverine goalie.

Minnesota would strike again six minutes into the second half when the Wolverines goalie misplayed a clearing attempt and Harper lept to block it with her body. She would beat the keeper to the ball and slid it past her to make it 2-0 Minnesota.

Harper would complete the hat trick in the 83rd minute when Sophia Romine passed the ball down the left side. Harper chased it down, outran the Wolverines defenders and nutmegged the goalie putting it right between her legs and into the goal to make it 3-0.

Gopher sophomore goaltender Sarah Martin made seven saves for her third consecutive clean-sheet and fourth in her last five games.

The win was the 150th career win for Gopher head coach Erin Chastain. It was Minnesota’s first win over the Wolverines since 2018.

Minnesota will try to continue their scorching hot start to the season on Sunday when they make the trip to Madison to take on the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin is 4-2-2 on the season and 0-1-1 in the Big Ten after dropping a match to Rutgers and tying Illinois on Thursday night. The Gophers defeated Illinois 1-0 for their first Big Ten win this season.