Sophia Romine’s wonderful goal from nearly 30 yards out propelled the Gophers women’s soccer team into the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament on Friday.

Down 1-0 at halftime, sixth-seeded Minnesota staked a two-goal comeback to beat third-seeded South Carolina 2-1 in a second-round match in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Minnesota (14-4-3) will play either No. 2 North Carolina or Santa Clara at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Head coach Erin Chastain has brought the Gophers back to the third round of the national tourney for the first time since coach Mikki Denney Wright did it in 2010.

The U’s comeback Friday included a penalty kick goal from captain Sophia Boman in the 57th minute. The PK was earned by a foul on leading scorer Khyah Harper in the box. Boman’s confident PK rippled the back of the net to make it 1-1.

Romine, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin, has started every game for Minnesota this season. It was her fifth goal of the season.

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