Gophers Triumph in NCAA Tournament, Advance to Third Round
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In a thrilling second-round NCAA women’s soccer tournament match, the Minnesota Gophers rallied from an early deficit to secure a 2-1 victory over South Carolina on Friday. With this win, the Gophers (14-4-3) have reached the third round of the NCAA tournament for only the third time in program history and for the first time since 2010.
The match began with South Carolina taking an early lead, as Katie Shea found the back of the net in the eighth minute, putting the Gophers on the defensive. However, the tide turned in the second half when graduate student Sophia Boman converted a penalty kick in the 56th minute to equalize. This marked Boman’s eighth goal of the season, showcasing her leadership and skill.
Just thirteen minutes later, fellow graduate student Sophia Romine gave the Gophers the lead with a stunning long-range shot from nearly 30 yards, notching her fifth goal of the season and sealing the victory for Minnesota.
Gophers sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Martin made one crucial save during the match, as Minnesota outshot South Carolina with an impressive 8-2 advantage in shots on goal. In their previous match, the Gophers also showcased their offensive prowess with a 2-0 victory over South Dakota State, where Boman scored both goals.
The victory comes for South Carolina, a perennial NCAA tournament contender, as they were fresh off a decisive 6-0 win against East Carolina in the first round. However, it was the Gophers’ day, as they look forward to facing either North Carolina or Santa Clara in the next round on Sunday. The Gophers’ journey in the tournament continues, as they seek to make further history in the NCAA championship chase.
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