University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, August 14
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
BYU
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Forward/Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
/ Soccer
Defender
/ Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Soccer
Forward
/ Soccer
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Minnesota Opens Season Against BYU, St. Thomas
8/13/2025 1:00:00 PM | Soccer
The Golden Gophers begin the 2025 season at home
MINNEAPOLIS - Kicking off the season with the first event of the 2025-26 Gopher sports year, the No. 24 University of Minnesota soccer team hosts BYU on Thursday followed by a crosstown match up against St. Thomas on Sunday at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium. 2025 marks the fifth year Minnesota has been under the direction of Head Coach Erin Chastain and her staff.
No. 24 Minnesota (0-0-0, 0-0-0 B1G) vs. RV BYU (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big 12)
Date: Aug. 14, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
No. 24 Minnesota (0-0-0, 0-0-0 B1G) vs. St. Thomas (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Summit League)
Date: Aug. 17, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
…Ready For It?
No. 24 Minnesota kicks off the 2025 season with a prime matchup against BYU, which received votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches rankings.
The Cougars have made seven consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the College Cup semifinal in 2023 and a championship game appearance in 2021. Last season, BYU fell to Santa Clara in the opening round.
Thursday's match marks the third meeting in program history between the two teams. The Cougars hold a 2-0 record against the Gophers, winning previous matchups in 2001 (3-0) and 2000 (3-0). Both games were played at neutral sites.
Do You Get Deja Vu?
Minnesota's contest against St. Thomas on Sunday marks the fourth meeting in a series that dates back to 1993. The Gophers hold a 3-0 record over the Tommies, with their most recent win coming last season.
The crosstown foes first met in 1993, then again in 2023 and 2024. A Gopher has recorded a hat trick in each of the three games. In 1993, Erin Chastain (Hussey) scored the first of her career. Thirty years later, Sophia Boman repeated history with her own first career hat trick against St. Thomas. In 2024, Khyah Harper became the latest to accomplish the feat, her first hat trick as well.
Gold Rush
This season marks Cunningham's first in Maroon and Gold after spending her first three years at San Jose State. The midfielder played a key role on both ends of the field, recording one goal and two assists.
Last season, Kalal earned All-Big Ten second team honors after finishing the regular season ranked second in the conference and eighth nationally in assists (9). The Minnesota native also scored two goals during her sophomore campaign against Northwestern ( Oct. 4) and No. 11 Iowa (Oct. 27).
Thurk enters her sophomore season after anchoring the backline as a freshman. The Edina, Minnesota, native was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, TopDrawerSoccer Best XI second team, and ranked No. 21 on the TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Freshmen list..
Maroon and Gold in the Polls
The Gophers have received top-25 recognition from two publications to start the season. United Soccer Coaches ranked Minnesota No. 24, while TopDrawerSoccer placed the team at No. 14. It marks the program's first preseason top-25 ranking since 2017.
Last season, Minnesota reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, falling to eventual national champion North Carolina. The Gophers defeated three ranked opponents (No. 8 Ohio State, No. 11 Iowa, No. 14 South Carolina) and handed No. 24 USC its only draw.
Opportunity Awaits
Minnesota's schedule has been recognized as one of the most difficult in the nation, featuring five top-25 opponents and one team receiving votes. In total, nine teams on the Gophers' schedule made an NCAA tournament appearance last season.
Gophers in the Pros
During the offseason, three Gopher alums signed professional contracts. Forward Khyah Harper signed with NJ/NY Gotham FC of the NWSL in January. On Aug. 1, she made her first start and scored her first professional goal against the Chicago Red Stars.
Sophia Boman received a preseason invitation to Kansas City Current's camp and later signed with Sporting JAX, a member of the USL Super League. Rounding out the signings was Sophia Romine, who will compete for Grindavík in Iceland.
This is Home
Following a standout 2024 campaign that led the team to one of the most successful seasons in program history, head coach Erin Chastain signed a contract extension through the 2028 season.
In 2024, Minnesota finished with a 14-5-3 record and a final national ranking of No. 17, with Chastain earning her 150th career win with a 3-0 victory over Michigan. The Gophers posted an undefeated regular-season home record (7-0-2) for the first time since 2008. Minnesota also earned three top-25 wins, including victories over No. 8 Ohio State (3-2), No. 11 Iowa (2-1), and No. 14 South Carolina (2-1). The Gophers drew 2-2 against No. 24 Southern California, handing the Trojans their only non-win of the regular and conference seasons.
Welcome to Dinkytown
Chastain and her staff welcomed nine freshmen to the roster this season, including two from Minnesota (Sawyer Danielson, Tenley Senden), three from Illinois (Emily Buescher, Mya Nugent, Jacqueline Gabbert), two from Michigan (Tyra Chu, Emily Filbrun), one from California (Hannah Heinlein) and one from Colorado (Brenna Schoenfelder).
Talent from the Portal
Four transfers have been added to the Gophers' roster: Mariah Nguyen, Keegan Schmeiser, Tatiana Cunningham and Freya Jupp. Nguyen comes to Minnesota after two seasons at St. Thomas and a successful stint with Minnesota Aurora. Schmeiser brings valuable experience from Penn State, where she competed in two NCAA tournaments. Cunningham transferred from San Jose State, while Jupp joins the Maroon and Gold after three seasons at DePaul, where she earned All-BIG EAST honors.
Michael on Deck
Michael O'Hare joined Minnesota in the offseason as an assistant coach, working primarily with the goalkeepers. Prior to joining the Gophers, O'Hare spent three seasons at Little Rock, two at Sam Houston State, and three at Oklahoma State, where he helped the Cowgirls win two Big 12 regular-season championships. The Oklahoma State staff was also recognized as the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Midwest Staff of the Year.
No. 24 Minnesota (0-0-0, 0-0-0 B1G) vs. RV BYU (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Big 12)
Date: Aug. 14, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
No. 24 Minnesota (0-0-0, 0-0-0 B1G) vs. St. Thomas (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Summit League)
Date: Aug. 17, 2025
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Stream: B1G+
Location: Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium
…Ready For It?
No. 24 Minnesota kicks off the 2025 season with a prime matchup against BYU, which received votes in the most recent United Soccer Coaches rankings.
The Cougars have made seven consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the College Cup semifinal in 2023 and a championship game appearance in 2021. Last season, BYU fell to Santa Clara in the opening round.
Thursday's match marks the third meeting in program history between the two teams. The Cougars hold a 2-0 record against the Gophers, winning previous matchups in 2001 (3-0) and 2000 (3-0). Both games were played at neutral sites.
Do You Get Deja Vu?
Minnesota's contest against St. Thomas on Sunday marks the fourth meeting in a series that dates back to 1993. The Gophers hold a 3-0 record over the Tommies, with their most recent win coming last season.
The crosstown foes first met in 1993, then again in 2023 and 2024. A Gopher has recorded a hat trick in each of the three games. In 1993, Erin Chastain (Hussey) scored the first of her career. Thirty years later, Sophia Boman repeated history with her own first career hat trick against St. Thomas. In 2024, Khyah Harper became the latest to accomplish the feat, her first hat trick as well.
Gold Rush
This season marks Cunningham's first in Maroon and Gold after spending her first three years at San Jose State. The midfielder played a key role on both ends of the field, recording one goal and two assists.
Last season, Kalal earned All-Big Ten second team honors after finishing the regular season ranked second in the conference and eighth nationally in assists (9). The Minnesota native also scored two goals during her sophomore campaign against Northwestern ( Oct. 4) and No. 11 Iowa (Oct. 27).
Thurk enters her sophomore season after anchoring the backline as a freshman. The Edina, Minnesota, native was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, TopDrawerSoccer Best XI second team, and ranked No. 21 on the TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 Freshmen list..
Maroon and Gold in the Polls
The Gophers have received top-25 recognition from two publications to start the season. United Soccer Coaches ranked Minnesota No. 24, while TopDrawerSoccer placed the team at No. 14. It marks the program's first preseason top-25 ranking since 2017.
Last season, Minnesota reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, falling to eventual national champion North Carolina. The Gophers defeated three ranked opponents (No. 8 Ohio State, No. 11 Iowa, No. 14 South Carolina) and handed No. 24 USC its only draw.
Opportunity Awaits
Minnesota's schedule has been recognized as one of the most difficult in the nation, featuring five top-25 opponents and one team receiving votes. In total, nine teams on the Gophers' schedule made an NCAA tournament appearance last season.
Gophers in the Pros
During the offseason, three Gopher alums signed professional contracts. Forward Khyah Harper signed with NJ/NY Gotham FC of the NWSL in January. On Aug. 1, she made her first start and scored her first professional goal against the Chicago Red Stars.
Sophia Boman received a preseason invitation to Kansas City Current's camp and later signed with Sporting JAX, a member of the USL Super League. Rounding out the signings was Sophia Romine, who will compete for Grindavík in Iceland.
This is Home
Following a standout 2024 campaign that led the team to one of the most successful seasons in program history, head coach Erin Chastain signed a contract extension through the 2028 season.
In 2024, Minnesota finished with a 14-5-3 record and a final national ranking of No. 17, with Chastain earning her 150th career win with a 3-0 victory over Michigan. The Gophers posted an undefeated regular-season home record (7-0-2) for the first time since 2008. Minnesota also earned three top-25 wins, including victories over No. 8 Ohio State (3-2), No. 11 Iowa (2-1), and No. 14 South Carolina (2-1). The Gophers drew 2-2 against No. 24 Southern California, handing the Trojans their only non-win of the regular and conference seasons.
Welcome to Dinkytown
Chastain and her staff welcomed nine freshmen to the roster this season, including two from Minnesota (Sawyer Danielson, Tenley Senden), three from Illinois (Emily Buescher, Mya Nugent, Jacqueline Gabbert), two from Michigan (Tyra Chu, Emily Filbrun), one from California (Hannah Heinlein) and one from Colorado (Brenna Schoenfelder).
Talent from the Portal
Four transfers have been added to the Gophers' roster: Mariah Nguyen, Keegan Schmeiser, Tatiana Cunningham and Freya Jupp. Nguyen comes to Minnesota after two seasons at St. Thomas and a successful stint with Minnesota Aurora. Schmeiser brings valuable experience from Penn State, where she competed in two NCAA tournaments. Cunningham transferred from San Jose State, while Jupp joins the Maroon and Gold after three seasons at DePaul, where she earned All-BIG EAST honors.
Michael on Deck
Michael O'Hare joined Minnesota in the offseason as an assistant coach, working primarily with the goalkeepers. Prior to joining the Gophers, O'Hare spent three seasons at Little Rock, two at Sam Houston State, and three at Oklahoma State, where he helped the Cowgirls win two Big 12 regular-season championships. The Oklahoma State staff was also recognized as the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Midwest Staff of the Year.
Highlights: Gophers 2, Brown 0
Monday, September 01
Highlights: Gophers 4, Marquette 3
Thursday, August 28
Highlights: Gophers 4, Northern Illinois 0
Sunday, August 24
Highlights: Gophers 3, St. Thomas 0
Sunday, August 17