Gophers continue to earn national respect

The Minnesota women’s soccer team, for the first time in almost a decade, is ranked in the top-25 of the NSCAA/Adidas Coaches’ Poll.
The Gophers, ranked 23rd, last cracked into the poll early in the 1999-’00 season. That season ended with the team competing in both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.
The Gophers beat conference-leader Purdue and No. 25 Illinois this past weekend in a pair of 1-0 home victories. Friday’s game against Purdue saw two overtimes, with freshman forward Tamara Strahota scoring the game-winner in the 109th minute.
Minnesota and Illinois, which was previously ranked 16th before losing last weekend, are the only Big Ten schools appearing in the poll.
The Gophers remain ranked in several national polls. They own the No. 16 spot nationally in the SoccerBuzz poll and are ranked 19th and 13rd by Soccer America and Soccer Times, respectively.