The Gophers women’s soccer team had much to celebrate on Sunday in St. Paul.
The team defeated Indiana and sealed a bid to the Big Ten tournament after falling short last year. The win pushed them to an overall record of 11-3-3, their best record since 2018 when they won the Big Ten tournament.
After starting the year 8-0-1, the Gophers went 3-3-2 in their next eight games.
Gophers defender Elizabeth Overberg said she does not feel disappointed with the recent stretch of losses and ties, but the team knows they are better.
“We hold ourselves to a really high standard, so a lot of the games we did drop or not get the result we wanted, we knew we were right in there with them,” Overberg said. “I think it’s taking those as learning experiences.”
With one game remaining in the regular season, Gophers forward Khyah Harper leads the nation in total goals, points, points per game and goals per game.
According to head coach Erin Chastain, Harper’s desire entering the season was to hit five goals. Even Chastain thought that was low for what she knew Harper’s ability to be.
Harper picked up her sixth game-winning goal of the season on Sunday, placing her second in the conference in game-winning goals and tying the Gophers program record for game-winning goals, set by Simone Kolander in 2015.
Gophers midfielder Evelyn Calhoon picked up her first goal of the season in the middle of the game on Sunday off an assist from Harper.
Chastain said it was awesome to see Calhoon get the ball into the back of the net for the first time as a Gopher.
Gophers midfielder Sophia Boman put the game away with a penalty shot goal in the 83rd minute to give the Gophers a 3-0 lead over the Indiana Hoosiers. Boman has four goals on the season.
Minnesota’s final game of the postseason is on Sunday at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium against No. 10 Iowa. Harper said the Gophers analyzed their own performances to identify elements of their game that need work.
“We need to finish more chances for sure, we had a lot against Indiana and Maryland,” Harper said. “Overall, our team chemistry is already clicking so it’s just the technical pieces.”
Iowa, the defending Big Ten champions, are third in the conference in goals and second in goals allowed. They have the best goal differential in the conference.
Chastain has faith that her team can perform well if they get an opportunity at the NCAA tournament.
“We just need to tighten up defensively and not be as open as we have been,” Chastain said. “You need players that believe in what we do and how we play and show up and compete every day, and they do that.”
Chastain said they are more focused on what is right in front of them but hope they will earn a bid.
The conference teams will make the trek to St. Paul for the first two rounds of the Big Ten tournament at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie.