Gophers women's soccer blanks Illinois 5-0

McKenna Buisman scored two goals on hustle plays in the first half as the Gophers women's soccer team defeated Illinois 5-0 on Thursday at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.

On the first Minnesota goal, an Illini player passed the ball back to goalkeeper Julia Cili, but Buisman managed to get a contested ball past Cili, who was way out of the net. And then the senior forward just watched the ball roll slowly into the net in the 20th minute.

Buisman's second goal of the game — and fourth of the season — came in the 31st minute. She stole a ball near the top of the penalty area, dribbled to the middle and put a shot just inside the right post.

Late in the first half, Rylan Baker and Makenzie Langdok scored goals about three minutes apart to make it 4-0. Minnesota got its final goal from Aynsley Conner in the 89th minute.

Sophia Boman had assists on the last two goals.

Megan Plaschko had four saves for the Gophers (7-4-3, 3-4 Big Ten) to get her seventh shutout this season. Two keepers for the Illini (5-8-1, 1-5-1) combined to stop six shots.

The No. 6 Gophers women's hockey team will play Minnesota State Mankato in a home-and-home series, starting at 6 p.m. Friday at Ridder Arena. The second game is at 4 p.m. Saturday in Mankato.

Last weekend, the Gophers split a road series at Minnesota Duluth, winning 3-1, then losing 5-4 in overtime.

MSU Mankato has swept nonconference series against Merrimack and Lindenwood and, in between, split with the Bulldogs in Mankato.

The Mavericks are averaging 4.8 goals per game, led by junior Kelsey King's seven goals and three assists for 10 points.

Gophers senior forward Taylor Heise has 99 career points (40 goals, 59 assists) in 99 games, making her the program's active scoring leader. The alternate captain has two goals and three assists on 27 shots this season — 12 more than the closest teammate has.

Seven Minnesotans were named to the U.S. team that will play in the IIHF U18 Women's World Championships from Jan. 8-15 in Linkoping and Mjolby, Sweden.

The coaching staff includes assistant coach Mel Ruzzi of Burnsville, and goalie coach Alli Altmann of Eagan.

• Former Hill-Murray forward Charlie Strobel, who has committed to the Gophers, signed to play for the Trail Smoke Eaters in the British Columbia Hockey League. Strobel, 20, played for Waterloo in the USHL last season.

• Northstar Christian Academy of Alexandria, Minn., moved up to No. 2 in the nation in the USA U18 hockey rankings. The Knights are 14-0.

• St. Thomas swimmer Alex Foti was named the Summit League men's swimmer of the week. The freshman from Waukesha, Wis., broke a school record in his first college race, winning the 1,000 freestyle (9 minutes, 48.56 seconds) in the Tommies' 170-110 season-opening victory over Augustana (S.D.). He also won the 500 freestyle (4:45.58) and swam on the winning 200 freestyle relay.

• The St. Thomas volleyball team lost to visiting Oral Roberts 25-17, 25-19, 25-15. Lauren Galvin had 10 kills for the Tommies (2-16, 1-7 Summit League) and Carrie Rutledge nine digs. The Golden Eagles (11-5, 5-2) had lost two straight.