By: by Jessica Steadman
Box Score Photo Gallery
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State goalkeeper Staci Pugh tied a career-high with 10 saves on Sunday afternoon, but it was a goal in the 84th minute that was the difference maker as No. 17-ranked Minnesota defeated the Owls, 1-0, on a rain-soaked pitch at the KSU Soccer Complex.
“Anytime you are playing a top 20 program and you keep it level the way we did, you have to pleased,” said Kennesaw State head coach Rob King. “I am very pleased with our effort today.”
The start of the match was delayed for almost an hour as rain as rain, thunder and lightning blanketed the area and made for slippery conditions on the field. However, Minnesota (2-1-0) did not let the conditions affect them as they got off 12 shots in the first half and had control of the match offensively.
Pugh made two tremendous saves in the first five minutes of the match when the Golden Gophers Shari Eckstrom had her shot, which was headed for the crossbar, batted away by a leaping Pugh. Minutes later, Eckstrom had her 15-yard blast stopped by Pugh who ended the half with five saves.
The Owls (1-2-0) did not get off a shot until less than a minute remained in the half when forward Caitlin Dingle sent a cross to midfielder Katie Scott that landed in the hands of Minnesota goalkeeper, Cat Parkhill.
Bridget Gaughan and the Kennesaw State defense continued to stay strong in the second half, withstanding three shots on goal in the first eight minutes of the first stanza.
“I think the weather definitely played a role in today’s match,” said Gaughan. “It made things more challenging and a lot less predictable. It was hard to tell where the ball was going to land, it made it much more of a mental match.”
Minnesota was aggressive in the second half and kept the pressure on the KSU defense as they attempted four corner kicks in the second half. Two of the corners came within a three-minute span, but the Owls defense prevailed both times as Minnesota never got off a solid shot attempt.
The Owls tried to take advantage of a Minnesota foul, but Jade Dempster’s 20-yard cross landed in front of the Golden Golphers net before it was batted away by the Minnesota’s defense.
In the 84th minute, after a flurry of activity for minutes in front of the Kennesaw State goal, Minnesota’s Katie Bethke scored on a shot that dribbled past a diving Pugh into the bottom left of the net for the only goal of the match and stopped the Owls 10 match, non-conference home winning streak.
The Owls scrambled in the final minutes of the match and came close to getting the equalizer with 10 seconds remaining when midfielder Maylee Attin-Johnson attempted a shot from 25-yard out that was blocked late, preserving the win for Minnesota.
The effort was there today,” added King. “The defense was well organized and our effort level was high. Staci (Pugh) played very well today and I thought we communicated very well all the way around.”
The Owls return to action on Friday, Sept. 4 when they travel to Auburn, Ala. to take on the Tigers of Auburn at 7:00 p.m.
