Minnesota Scene: Gophers to play Rutgers for Big Ten tournament women's soccer title

The Gophers will play Rutgers at 1 p.m. Sunday at Robbie Stadium in the championship match of the Big Ten women's soccer tournament.

Minnesota (15-3-3) is ranked No. 8 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll this week and is on an eight-match unbeaten streak (6-0-2).

But the Gophers, the top seed in this tournament, have won it only once, in 1995, and were 0-2 against Rutgers last season when the Scarlet Knights reached the national semifinals. The two teams have not met this year.

Rutgers (11-3-6), the seventh seed, has upset Penn State 2-0 and Northwestern 1-0, the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds and the two teams that tied with Minnesota for the regular-season title. This is the Scarlet Knights' third conference final in four years.

"We come in with the expectation of winning a championship," Rutgers junior midfielder Christy Monroy said.

The conference playoffs champion will get an automatic NCAA Division I tournament bid. The pairings for the 64-team field, including the at-large teams, will be announced at 3:30 p.m. Monday on NCAA.com.

Given their record, the Gophers appear to be a lock for an at-large bid even if they lose to Rutgers, but a loss would hurt their seeding.

The St. Thomas men's soccer team edged visiting Macalester 1-0 to win is first MIAC playoff championship on Shae Bottum's goal in the 52nd minute. Aidan Hogan made three saves in the shutout for the Tommies (16-1-3).

In the women's conference title match, Augsburg beat the Tommies 1-0 on Marta Anderson's unassisted goal in the 16th minute. Marissa Guillou of the Auggies (17-4) made six saves.

• Freshman Thomas Longbella shot an 8-under 63 to help the Gophers men's golf team move into a tie for ninth place after the second day of the Ka'anapali Collegiate Classic in Maui, Hawaii. Longbella's round tied for the second best in program history.

• Senior wrestler Brett Pfarr of the Gophers defeated Brett Harner of Princeton 7-4 on a takedown with 10 seconds left — and a point for riding time — in the 197-pound match in the NWCA All-Star Classic in Cleveland.

• Host Gustavus defeated Bethel 25-23, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23 in the championship match of the MIAC volleyball playoffs. Lauren Hanson led the Gusties (23-7) with 18 kills.