Aug. 27, 2006
Columbia, MO – The University of Iowa women’s soccer team picked up its first win of the 2006 season with a 1-0 victory over South Carolina at the Tiger Invitational. The Hawkeye defense was superb in the shutout, turning away 23 shots in the victory.
Junior Melisa Kaetterhenry gave Iowa its first goal of the season in the 56th minute off a counter-attack. After a clearance by the Hawkeye defense, junior Kelsie Full took the ball down the wing and got behind the South Carolina defense around midfield. Full then played a ball through to Kaetterhenry, who found the back of the net from 16 yards out for the 1-0 advantage.
The Gamecocks kept pressure on the Hawkeye defense, recording 10 first half shots. Senior goalkeeper Ali Becker recorded five of her six saves in the first 39 minutes of the match. The Hawkeye backline withstood 13 second half shots, including nine in the final 20 minutes.
Becker and the defense gave Iowa its first shutout since the 2003 season when the Hawkeyes blanked Northern Iowa, 4-0.
“We are very excited about our victory today,” Head Coach Ron Rainey said after his first win at Iowa. “I thought Ali and our defense really stepped up today and handled South Carolina’s offensive pressure. Our defense did a great job of clearing loose balls in our half and we were fortunate enough to get the win.”
Iowa travels to Lincoln, NE on September 3 to face the Cornhuskers in the second annual Big Ten/Big XII Challenge. Match time is set for 1 p.m.