We tell you where and when you can catch the Gophers in action this weekend
The Fall Minnesota Golden Gophers sports seasons are in full swing and we have some of the winter sports with seasons that start early—mainly hockey back in action on both the men’s and women’s sides this weekend. It’s an incredibly busy weekend of action with ranked opponents galore. Here is the schedule for the next three days and where you can catch all the action either at a stadium near you, or from your couch.
Friday October 4th:
Cross Country @ Loyola Lakefront Invitational—Chicago, Illinois 10AM
The Minnesota Golden Gophers cross country teams are in Chicago for the Loyola Lakefront Invitational on Friday. The women’s 6K race begins at 10 AM with the men’s 8K race to follow at 10:40. Both the men’s and women;’s teams will face some tough opponents with the Participating Division I Men’s Teams to be #10 Alabama, #14 Butler, DePaul, Drake, Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Loyola, Minnesota, NC State, Ohio State, Toledo, Tulane, UC Davis, #18 Wisconsin, and Cal Poly. The Participating Division I Women’s Teams include #15 Alabama, Butler, DePaul, Drake, Duke, Indiana, Louisville, Loyola, Minnesota, #1 NC State, Ohio State, #29 Texas, Toledo, Tulane, UC Davis, #10 Wisconsin, and Cal Poly. Live results for both races can be found HERE
The Gophers will also send a portion of their racers to the Blugold Invite, held at Whitetail Golf Course near Colfax, Wis. The event begins at 4:15 p.m. with the women’s 6K followed by the men’s 8K at 5:15 p.m. Live results for the event can be followed at WayzataTiming.com.
Women’s Golf @ Ron Moore Intercollegiate—Highlands Ranch, CO 10:30 AM
The women’s golf team is back in action this weekend at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate held at University of Denver Golf Course in Highlands Rach, Colorado. Minnesota will face off along with teams including Colorado, Kansas State, UNLV, Denver, New Mexico, Hawaii, and others. The teams will play 18 holes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Gopher lineup will include junior Isabella McCauley and freshman Reese McCauley, along with sophomore Mariana Mesones, junior Madison Le, and sophomore Sara Tomaszewski. Live scoring can be found HERE.
Swimming and Diving @ Nebraska 4 PM
The Minnesota Gophers swim and dive teams hit the pool for the first time this season on Friday night as they head to Lincoln. The Gopher women will compete in a tri-meet featuring Nebraska and South Dakota, while the men will solely face off against the Coyotes.
The men’s team opens the season ranked #22 in the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of American rankings. They return ten members who competed at the 2024 NCAA Championships. They will be led by senior Bar Soloveychik. He was named an All-American in the 1650 free and an honorable mention All-American in the 500 free and he earned second team All-Big Ten honors. Soloveychik also holds school records in the 200 free (1:33.41), 500 free (1:33.41), 1000 free (8:52.95), 1650 free (14:41.40), and the 800 freestyle relay (6:16.25).
The women’s team opens the season ranked #24. They return five wo competed at the NCAA Championships last spring. They will be led by junior diver Vivi Del Angel who became the first Gopher woman to win the platform national title with a score of (327.90). Besides her national title Vivi was named the Big Ten Diver of the year and an All-American (Platform).
The meet will stream live on Nebraska’s You Tube Page at 4PM
Softball vs Concordia St. Paul 5:30
The Gopher softball team continues their fall ball games when DII Concordia-St. Paul crosses the River to Jane Sage Cowles Stadium for a doubleheader. Attendance is free with no stream.
#2 Women’s Hockey vs Boston University 6 PM B1G+
The Gopher women’s hockey team returns home after their season opening sweep at #9 UCONN last weekend. This weekend Minnesota brings in another Hockey East foe in the Terriers. The two teams have played some highly touted matchups in NCAA Tournaments previously, but the Terriers have been down for the past few seasons finishing at 14-18-3 a season ago.
Minnesota leads the all-time series between the two schools 5-1 including 2-0 in the NCAA Tournament. BU won their most recent matchup 6-5 in OT in December of 2016. Minnesota is 4-0 all time at Ridder Arena against the Terriers.
BU is 1-0 on the season after a 7-1 win over Hockey East foe Merrimack on Tuesday. Tamara Giaquinto led BU with two goals and an assist for three points while freshman Lola Reid also tallied three points with her first collegiate goal and two assists. Sophomore goalie Mari Pieterson made 16 saves in the win.
Faceoff Friday night is set for 6 PM and will stream live on B1G+.
Soccer vs Northwestern 7 PM B1G+
The Minnesota women’s soccer team plays their annual Rock The Robbie match on Friday night when Northwestern comes to town. They Gophers currently sit in ninth place in the Big Ten with 7 points and a 2-2-1 record. Northwestern has struggled this season and are currently tied for last place with Maryland at 0-4-1 in conference play. It’s a quick breather in Minnesota’s tough schedule which is currently ranked as the nation’s 45th hardest. They travel to a pair of ranked conference opponents in Ohio State and Penn State next weekend, which makes this a near must-win game for Minnesota.
Minnesota has been led all season by senior Khyah Harper. She continues to lead the nation in multiple stat categories. Harper ranks first in goals per game (1.08), points per game (2.42), and total goals (13), tied with California’s Karlie Lema. She’s seated second nationally in game-winning goals (5) and total points (29).
The match will stream on B1G+.
#12 Volleyball @ UCLA 9 PM B1G+
The Gopher volleyball team makes their first conference trip to the west coast starting with a match at UCLA on Friday night. Minnesota moved up to #12 in the most recent national poll after knocking off Wisconsin and losing in five sets to Purdue last weekend. It will be Minnesota’s first ever match at Pauley Pavillion.
UCLA leads the all-time series 4-2 over the Gophers, but Minnesota has the most recent win a 3-0 sweep in the Elite Eight at the Pav in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. UCLA is 1-1 in conference play this season defeating Ohio State but losing to Nebraska. Graduate middle blocker Anna Dodson was named Preseason All-B1G. She leads the team with 1.28 blocks per set. The match will stream live on B1G+.
Saturday October 5th
Rowing @ Head of the Mississippi Regatta 9 AM
The Gopher rowing team kicks off their fall season with the “home’ Head of the Mississippi Regatta in Minneapolis. Creighton, Drake, Michigan Tech, Nebraska, and St. Thomas will all have teams to face off against the Gophers. Races will start at the Lake Street Bridge and finish at the Washington Avenue Bridge.
Men’s Hockey @ St. Cloud State 6 PM FOX9+
The Gopher men’s hockey team will hit the ice for the first time this season in an exhibition game at St. Cloud State on Saturday night. Minnesota returns a high scoring lineup led by Junior Jimmy Snuggerud who returned to the U rather than turn pro. Minnesota brings in an impact transfer in UCONN’s Mathew Wood, and brings in a highly touted freshmen class. We will have a full preview of the Men’s hockey team next week before they officially kick off game that count at the Icebreaker Invitational in Las Vegas. Saturday’s game will air live on Fox9+ in Minnesota
Football vs #11USC 6:30 PM Big Ten Network
The Gophers will look to get back to playing a full four quarters when #11 USC comes to Huntington Bank Stadium for a night game on Saturday. Minnesota comes off a 27-24 loss at Michigan last weekend while USC defeated Wisconsin 38-21. Our full preview of this game is HERE.
Kickoff is slated for 6:30 PM on Big Ten Network.
Volleyball @ #20 USC 10 PM BTN
The Gophers and Trojans will compete in a football/ volleyball doubleheader on Big Ten network on Saturday night. Minnesota plays their second game out west, this time at USC. It will be the U’s first ever game at the Galen Center. USC is 4-2 all-time against the Gophers winning the most recent match in the NCAA Tournament in 2017 in the Sweet 16. Minnesota’s most recent win was in the 2004 Final Four to advance to the National Championship game. So far this season, USC is 0-3 against ranked teams, falling to No. 11 Creighton (3-1), No. 1 Pitt (3-0) and No. 2 Nebraska (3-0). Nebraska graduate transfer Ally Batenhorst leads the team with 3.78 kills per set in 2024, while setter Mia Tuaniga paces the Trojans with 10.07 assists per set. Tuaniga was named Preseason All-Big Ten. Gala Trubint leads the team with 3.26 digs per set and Tyrah Ariail posts 1.34 blocks per set.
Sunday October 6th
Softball vs St. Cloud State 1 PM
Another fall ball double header against the DII Huskies at Jane Sage. Free admission.
Women’s Hockey vs Boston University 1 PM B1G+
After taking a day off due to football the Gophers and Terriers will play game two of their series at Ridder Arena. The game will stream live on B1G+.