Oct. 24, 2006
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IOWA CITY – The Setting
The University of Iowa women’s soccer team concludes the 2006 season at home against Illinois. Match time is set for 7 p.m. Friday’s match is Iowa’s third straight at the Iowa Soccer Complex.
Fans can follow the match with livestats (gametracker) via www.hawkeyesports.com. Just click on the events tab below the the video player on hawkeyesports.com.
Senior Night For Becker
The Hawkeyes will honor senior goalkeeper Ali Becker during Friday’s match against Illinois. Becker, who is the lone senior on the roster, transfered to Iowa from Ball State this past summer.
Becker made an immediate impact, starting the first two matches of the season and recording Iowa’s first shutout since the 2002 season. She suffered a hand injury against Nebraska and was forced to miss five matches before returning to the lineup against Northwestern.
Becker has a 1.01 goals-against average with 56 saves this season.
What a Weekend
Last weekend marked the first time since 2002 that an Iowa squad went unbeaten over a Big Ten weekend. The Hawkeyes earned four points with a 1-1 win against No. 21 Indiana and a 0-0 draw against No. 17 Purdue. Both matches went to double-overtime.
Iowa Stuns Indiana
Junior Claire Goldenberg topped off an impressive performance with a goal in the 105th minute to give Iowa a 1-0, double-overtime upset win over Indiana last Friday. The win gave Iowa its first points in Big Ten play and Head Coach Ron Rainey his first conference win at Iowa.
Iowa’s defense was tested but only allowed 10 shots (five on goal) against a potent Indiana offense.
Hawkeyes Earn Draw
Iowa wrapped up a successful weekend with a scoreless, double-overtime draw against Purdue last Sunday. Iowa finished the weekend with four points in Big Ten play.
Iowa had three excellent scoring chances in the match, but Purdue goalkeeper Lauren Mason made three impressive saves to keep the Hawkeyes off the scoreboard.
Hawkeye goalkeeper Ali Becker recorded 10 saves in 110 minutes for her second-consecutive shutout.
Scouting Illinois
The Illinois Fighting Illini are 11-6-0 overall and 7-2-0 in Big Ten play.
Ella Masar leads the Illinois offense with six goals and six assists. Both Chichi Nweke and Jessica Bayne have six goals.
Lindsey Carstens has played in 16 matches with a 0.95 goals-against average. She has 48 saves and a .762 save percentage.
Illinois is coached by Janet Rayfield. Iowa trails the all-time series, 4-7-0.
Nice Time For Your First
Junior Claire Goldenberg netted her first-career goal last Friday against Indiana to help the Hawkeyes upset Indiana, 1-0 in double-overtime.
Goldenberg headed in the game-winner at the far post off a corner kick.
The defender from River Forest, IL, netted her first goal on only her second-career shot.
More Firsts For Iowa
Last weekend marked the first time since the 2002 season that Iowa finished a Big Ten weekend unbeaten.
The last time an Iowa squad finished a Big Ten weekend without a loss was October 4-6, 2002. Iowa defeated Minnesota, 1-0 and drew with Wisconsin, 1-1 in double-overtime.
Just One Away
Iowa needs just one more shutout to tie the school record for shutouts in a season.
The 2006 team has shutout six teams (South Carolina, Iowa State, Northern Colorado, Drake, Indiana and Purdue), which is just one shy of the school record seven, set by both the 1999 and 2002 teams.
With a Win
With a win against Illinois Friday, Iowa would end up with its highest point total (seven), since the 2002 season.
The 2002 Hawkeyes finished the conference schedule with a 3-6-1 record and 10 points.