Defenseman Lofquist quits U team, school

The sophomore defenseman played in only three games this year.

Last update: November 9, 2009 - 10:05 PM

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FROM STAFF REPORTS, NEWS SERVICES

Sophomore defenseman Sam Lofquist has quit the Gophers men's hockey team and withdrawn from school.

Lofquist had played in only three of Minnesota's eight games. He missed several games because of a bruised foot, but after playing Friday was a healthy scratch Saturday for the second game of the Wisconsin series.

In 38 games, the 6-2, 205-pound Lofquist had one goal and three assists. His departure leaves the Gophers with only six healthy defensemen. Freshman Nick Leddy is out until mid-December because of a broken jaw.

ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ

Gophers left out of NCAA field

The Gophers women's soccer team was left out of the 64-team NCAA Division I field announced Monday.

The Gophers (12-5-3, 5-3-2 Big Ten) finished in a tie (with Purdue) for fourth place in the Big Ten. Purdue and sixth-place Michigan State were among the five Big Ten teams selected. Penn State, Ohio State and Wisconsin also were selected.

Division II soccer

Minnesota State Mankato and Minnesota Duluth will face each other in the first round of the NCAA Division II women's soccer playoffs in Denver on Friday.

Division III soccer

Four MIAC women's teams -- Carleton, Concordia (Moorhead), Macalester and St. Thomas -- and two MIAC men's teams were awarded berths in the NCAA Division III soccer tournament.

In the women's playoffs, Carleton will play Wheaton (Ill.), Concordia will play Dubuque, Macalester will play St. Scholastica and St. Thomas will play Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the first round, which begins Thursday.

In the men's playoffs, Macalester will play Grinnell while St. Olaf will play Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round, which begins Thursday.

Division III volleyball

Four MIAC teams -- St. Benedict, St. Mary's St. Olaf and St. Thomas -- were awarded berths in the NCAA Division III volleyball tournament.

St. Benedict will play Luther, St. Mary's will play Thomas More, St. Olaf will play St. Norbert and St. Thomas will play Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round, which begins Thursday.

Etc.

• The Gophers football team's regular-season finale at Iowa on Nov. 21 will begin at 11 a.m. and be televised by ESPN or ESPN2.

• The Gophers volleyball team fell one spot to No. 13 in the AVCA Top 25. The Gophers (19-7, 10-4 Big Ten) swept Indiana and Purdue last week.

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

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