Soccer

Two days after being hit by a car while riding her bicycle, Minnesota soccer forward Kaitlin Neary told herself she would return to the game in less than a month.

On Sunday, with 11:45 remaining in the first half against Iowa, Neary substituted into the game for Allison Raino.

Monday was the four-week mark.

"I didn't tell anyone of my goal but myself," Neary said. "I kept hearing people say I wouldn't be back this season, but I knew I would return."

Ten seconds remained in the double overtime of Minnesota's soccer game against Iowa on Sunday afternoon. The Hawkeyes lined up for a penalty kick just outside Minnesota's 18-yard goaltending box.

Iowa's Julie Hickman passed to teammate Avery Bang, stationed to the right of the goal.

A goal crushes Minnesota's chances of earning a spot in the Big Ten conference tournament. A tie keeps the Gophers' diminishing hopes alive.

After earning only one Big Ten win last season, expectations for Minnesota's soccer season were modest at best.

But no one seemed to inform the players of that in August when they set their team expectations for 2003.

This season, the Gophers (5-5-1) agreed on one large goal: six victories in 10 conference games.

Accomplishing the feat would be a five-win improvement over last year and could likely earn the Gophers a spot in the Big Ten Tournament beginning Nov. 6 in Madison, Wis.

The defense of Minnesota's soccer team went unnoticed last week at practice while the Gophers focused on offense.

However, the defense made its presence felt last weekend.

Twice in Friday's victory over Northwestern, defender Jen Cressman made game-saving stops.

The biggest came with about 19 minutes remaining when Gophers goaltender Karli Kopietz made an initial save to her right and watched as the ball bounced to the left.

As a Wildcats forward set up to score, Cressman came from the middle of the goalie box and blocked the shot.

It preserved a victory.

Minnesota's soccer team gathered near midfield following Sunday's 3-1 loss to Illinois at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.

The players listened to the comments from coach Barbara Wickstrand and then wandered away to stretch, visit family members and, of course, contemplate what could have been.

All three of the Illini's goals came on plays Minnesota could have prevented, and the loss left many Gophers angry.

Minnesota's soccer team could have been devastated after losing two games last weekend.

The Gophers could have started pointing fingers, criticizing the coaching staff or placing blame elsewhere.

Instead, Minnesota (4-4-1, 1-3 Big Ten) shook off the losses to Michigan and Michigan State by Sunday night and realized the area that needed immediate improvement.

After notching zero shots in a 1-0 loss to Michigan on Sunday, the Gophers spent the majority of this week working on offense.

Only 10 minutes into Minnesota's soccer game against Michigan on Sept. 29, 2002, the Gophers were in a make-or-break situation.

Gophers goaltender Karli Kopietz found herself staring down a Michigan attacker on a penalty kick.

Allow a goal and the Wolverines would take control of the game. Stop the shot and Minnesota would gain momentum.

Kopietz made the save, and the Gophers went on to a 4-0 victory for their sole Big Ten win last season. But Kopietz remembers the game - and that save - for more than just the defining moment of her career.

Zero.

The number sticks out no matter what. And in this case, it is not referring to the number of goals Minnesota's soccer team scored in a 1-0 loss to Michigan on Sunday.

It's even worse than that.

The Gophers managed zero shots on goal against the Wolverines, forcing coach Barbara Wickstrand to make changes.

Heading into Friday's game against Northwestern, Minnesota will have a new lineup in hopes of generating offensive chances.

Michigan soccer coach Debbie Rademacher said the Wolverines remember last season's loss to Minnesota.

Apparently, the Wolverines also believe in payback.

Michigan came out with a sense of urgency and won a 1-0 defensive game Sunday afternoon in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Last season, the Gophers beat nationally ranked Michigan 4-0 at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium in the Gophers' only Big Ten victory of the season.

L

ast September, Michigan's women's soccer team was heading toward its best season ever and a match with a struggling Minnesota squad.