Gophers soccer transfers have found a new home in Minnesota

Gophers soccer transfers have found a new home in Minnesota Image by Nate Unger Sarah Martin, the Gophers’ senior goalkeeper and captain, readies herself to save the ball against Ohio State on Oct. 11, 2026. Gophers soccer transfers have found a new home in Minnesota The Gophers are 5-1-2 in home games so far in the 2026 season, due in part to the team’s offseason additons. Categories: Marquee Soccer Sports by Regan Guirguis Published October 13, 2026 The Gopher soccer team is nearing the end of their season with only four regular-season games remaining, two of those games at home. Coming off a two-game losing streak, the Gophers enter their next week of play with a 7-5-2 record.  Before the start of their season, the Gophers welcomed six new transfers and three freshmen onto their team, making nine of their 27-person roster completely new to the team. Despite the adjustment, many of the players had no problem stepping up and making an impact during the season.  One transfer in particular took the Gophers team by storm. Senior forward Ava Westlund joined the Gophers in the spring after transferring from California Baptist University.  During Westlund’s junior year at CBU, she started all 23 games, scoring nine goals and five assists. This earned her a spot on the Western Athletic Conference’s first team. Westlund took her accomplishments at CBU and brought them to the Gophers.  Before the 2026 season, Westlund was chosen for the 2026 MAC Hermann Trophy list, listed on United Soccer’s Forwards to Watch and selected as No. 96 on the Top Drawer Soccer 100 preseason players.  Her accomplishments continued into the season as Westlund was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 6 after scoring two goals against Maryland.  Westlund said her transition to the Gophers was really easy, partly because she grew up in the state and felt welcomed by the team. “This is home for me,” Westlund said. “Everyone was so welcoming, I feel like the level of competitiveness was at an all-time high, even in the spring, so I was just super excited.”  Westlund said during the fall, the pressure rises as the season starts, but she has still been enjoying her time with the team.  Westlund is not the only transfer who has felt welcomed by the team. Fifth-year forward Katelyn Rigg joined the Gophers after four years at Gonzaga University.  During Rigg’s senior year at Gonzaga, Rigg scored eight goals and three assists, earning a spot on the All-West Coast Conference Second Team. So far for the Gophers, Rigg scored one goal and one assist with 521 minutes played on the pitch.  Unlike Westlund, Rigg did not grow up in the state and has never been to a school as big as the University of Minnesota. Rigg said the transfer has been a big change for her, but everyone has been so welcoming.  “It’s a much larger school than I’m used to, a much bigger athletics program, and I’m really far away from home,” Rigg said. “But I love it. It’s been really awesome — it’s been what I was looking for.”  While the Gophers brought in many new players for the 2026 season, there are still many returners who know all about the culture of the program.  Alongside the team’s transfers, one of the most notable players for the team has been senior goalkeeper Sarah Martin. Martin played for the Gophers all four of her collegiate years. Prior to the start of the 2026 season, Martin was named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List and has proven that honor as the season continues.  Martin was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week on Sept. 15 and recently recorded a season-high 10 saves against No. 3 Ohio State. During her tenure, Martin has seen many players leave and join the program.  Martin said one of the things that makes the team so special is they all enjoy spending time with each other off the field.  “We, I think, have a group that is easy to join,” Martin said. “It’s been a culture we’ve developed over the time I’ve been here. It’s just been something that has organically happened because of the people we have brought in.”  Martin said as a leader on the team, she is proud of that dynamic because, win or lose, the team does it together. 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