Nov. 3, 2008
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- Iowa soccer wallpaper
- Iowasoccer.com
Complete Release in PDF Format
This Week
The University of Iowa hosts the 2008 Big Ten Women’s Soccer Tournament. Thursday, Nov. 6 through Sunday, Nov. 9. Iowa (9-10-1) earned the No. 8 seed in the tournament and will face top-seed Penn State (13-7-0, 8-2-0) at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Iowa in Big Ten Tournament
The Hawkeyes earned their way into the Big Ten Tournament for the second time in three seasons under Head Coach Ron Rainey. Iowa met Penn State in the first round of the 2007 Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis, but lost, 3-1.
Iowa is 0-4 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament.
Record Breakers
Iowa’s freshmen tandem of Alyssa Cosnek and Morgan Showalter etched their names into Iowa’s all-time record books on the same play Oct. 26 against Wisconsin. Cosnek’s goal in the 17th minute was her eighth on the season, tying former Hawkeye Kate Walse for 10th on the Iowa’s all-time list for most goals in a season. The Aliquippa, PA, native also has six game-winning goals this season, tying Sarah Lynch for second all-time.
With her assist, Showalter moved into a four-way tie with former Hawkeyes Linzy Wolman, Sarah Kiefer and Julie Atkocaitis for most assists in a season (nine). Earlier this season, Showalter tied the school record for most assists in a single match, when she had three assists in the season opener Aug. 23 against Drake. Also, sophomore forward Keli McLaughlin is tied for fifth all-time on Iowa’s record books for assists in a season (six).
As a team, the Hawkeyes have scored 27 goals on the season, the largest total since 2002, when they scored 28. Offensive production has gone up each year under Rainey, as Iowa has scored 11 more goals than last year and 16 more than in 2006.
Upset Special!
Iowa’s win over then No. 16 Illinois Oct. 10 was the first win over a ranked opponent in nearly two years. The last came Oct. 20, 2006, when Iowa upset then-No. 21 Indiana, 1-0, in Iowa City. Illinois was also the highest-ranked team Iowa beat since downing No. 13 Dartmouth, 3-1, in 2002.
Iowa’s Non-Conference Success
Iowa’s 3-0 win over North Dakota State Oct. 5 gave the Hawkeyes a 6-4-0 non-conference record, their best since 2002. The Hawkeyes are unbeaten (7-0-1) against their three main in-state rivals (Iowa State, Drake, Northern Iowa) under Rainey.
Hyink Nabs Player of the Week
Senior forward Stephanie Hyink was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 15. Hyink scored both of Iowa’s goals against Northern Iowa Sept. 12 and dished out two assists Sept. 14 against Creighton. She is the third player in school history to receive the Offensive Player of the Week honor and first since Katelyn Quinn in November 2003.
Home, Sweet Home
The Hawkeyes finished the 2008 season with a record of 7-4-0 at home and have won 12 of their last 17 matches played at the UI Soccer Complex, dating back to last season. Iowa’s seven wins at home this season are the most in school history.
Scouting Penn State
Penn State (13-7-0, 8-2-0) earned the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament after winning their 11th-straight conference title. They share the regular season crown with Minnesota, but earn the top draw in the tournament after defeating the Golden Gophers head-to-head, 2-0, Oct. 17.
They are led offensively by by Katie Schoepfer (10 G, 5 A), Danielle Toney (7 G, 7 A) and Nikki Watts (5 G, 2 A). Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, the reinging Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, has made 75 saves and five shutouts this season.
The Nittany Lions are coached by Erica Walsh, who is in her third season. She owns a record of 31-11-2 in State College, PA.
Iowa is winless in 13 tries against Penn State (0-13). Penn State handed Iowa a 1-0 overtime loss in their regular-season meeting Oct. 19.