Elizabeth Overberg was in the second grade the last time the Minnesota soccer team won a first-round NCAA Tournament game at home.
On Friday night, the former Ankeny Centennial star helped the Gophers to a 2-0 victory over South Dakota State in the Columbia Regional at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. It was Minnesota’s first opening-round win at home since 2010.
Overberg played all 90 minutes as the Gophers improved to 12-5-3 on the season. The senior defender and team captain has played every minute in all 20 games.
Sophia Boman scored both of Minnesota’s goals in the second half. The first one came off a free kick assist from Paige Kalal and Kate Childers in the 48th minute, then Boman converted a penalty kick about 7 minutes later for her seventh goal of the season.
Minnesota goalkeeper Sarah Martin made four saves, including a huge one midway through the second half to preserve the team’s seventh clean sheet. The Gophers outshot SDSU by an 18-14 margin and had nine shots on goal, seven more than the Jackrabbits (16-4-2).
The Gophers will face South Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., in the second round of the tournament. The game will be played next Thursday or Friday.