MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – Hitting the pitch for the first time in 2023, Niagara (0-1-0) fell to Minnesota (1-0-0) on the road by the final score of 5-1 in non-conference women’s soccer action Thursday night.
How it Happened
The Gophers quickly made it a 1-0 game with an executed free kick in the fourth minute that snuck between the far post and a diving Felicia Grufman. Minnesota would beat Grufman and the Niagara back line again in the 17th minute, followed by another executed set piece three minutes later to go up 3-0 over Niagara.
The Gophers made it a 4-0 game early in the second half with a tally inside the penalty area. However, the Purple Eagles would get their first chance of the night as a penalty was called on Minnesota, allowing graduate student Emily Hähnel to take a penalty kick, which the veteran would then capitalize on to cut into the Gopher lead and put NU on the board.
In the 75th minute, Minnesota would score the game’s final goal, taking advantage of a ball off the post that left the Niagara goal empty.
Niagara Notes
• Thursday marked the first-ever meeting between Niagara and Minnesota.
• Niagara’s lone shot on goal is the fewest by the Purple and White since last September’s meeting with Quinnipiac.
• Hähnel’s goal in the 60th minute is the second of her Purple Eagle career and first since Oct. 1, 2022, at Saint Peter’s.
• Grufman made a career-high 13 saves, eight of which came in the second half.
• Minnesota outshot Niagara 36-2 and recorded 11 corners to NU’s two.
Up Next
• Niagara will travel to St. Paul, Minn., to take on St. Thomas on Saturday, Aug. 19. The match between the Purple Eagles and Tommies is set for a noon eastern time kickoff.
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