Iowa Plays Final Non-Conference Game

Sept. 28, 2009

This Week

The University of Iowa soccer team travels to Des Moines Wednesday to face the final in-state competitor on the schedule. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Sunday, Iowa returns to the Iowa Soccer Complex to host Wisconsin. The second conference game for the Hawkeyes will be televised live on the Big Ten Network, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

Scouting the Opponents

Senior Elizabeth Woerle leads Drakes scoring efforts with five goals this season. Laura Moklestad recorded three goals and three assists. The duo combines for eight of Drake’s 14 goals.

Wisconsin is led offensively by Laurie Nosbusch who has three goals and an assist. Michele Dalton is in goal for the Badgers. Dalton has made 47 stops in 850 minutes in the net.

Series History

Iowa leads Drake 4-1 in the series. The Hawkeyes rolled over Drake last season with 4-0 shutout victory in Iowa City.

The Hawkeyes handed Wisconsin a 3-0 loss last season, but the Badgers lead the overall series 7-3-2.

Hawkeyes 2-For-2

Iowa has faced two in-state foes this season in Iowa State and Northern Iowa. The Hawkeyes handed the Cyclones their first loss of the season (2-0), as well as shutting out UNI (3-0).

The final match up against Drake gives Iowa the opportunity to win the mythical state title.

BTN In Iowa City

The Hawkeyes welcome Wisconsin to the Iowa Soccer Complex Sunday for their second Big Ten game this season.

The 1 p.m. game will be broadcast live from Iowa City on the Big Ten Network. It is Iowa’s lone appearance on the BTN this season.

The BTN was live from the soccer complex two weeks ago when Iowa hosted Iowa State. The network was airing it’s weekly Friday Night Tailgate program.

Defense Is Key

Iowa has only allowed seven goals in 10 games, the first three coming in the season opener against then No. 24 Missouri.

Goalkeeper Emily Moran boasts a .750 GAA. The sophomore has made 40 saves this season, an average of four per game. Moran went unscored upon for just over 409 consecutive minutes.

The Hawkeyes held previously No. 17 Minnesota scoreless for 83 minutes, the second longest the Gophers have gone without a score this season in their seven wins.

Iowa in Big Ten Rankings

Iowa leads the goals scored category in the Big Ten conference. The Hawkeyes have found the net 23 times, two more than second place Purdue.

Keli McLaughlin is second in the conference in goals scored with seven. She trails Lauren Hill of Michigan State by one.

McLaughlin is also top-five in points (14), goals per game (.7), and points per game (1.4).

Historical Start

Head Coach Ron Rainey along with his assistants, Eileen Narcotta and Shane Meridith, have led the Hawkeyes to a 7-3 start.

The 2009 Iowa team is tied with the 2000 squad for the best start in the program’s 13 year history.

Hawkeyes on the BTN

The Hawkeyes will make their lone appearance on the Big Ten Network on October 4 when they entertain Wisconsin at 1 p.m.

Experience Isn’t Everything

Nearly half of Iowa’s 23 goals this season have been scored by freshmen or sophomores. The underclassmen have shown this season that experience is not everything, as they have combined for 10 goals and 33 points.

Alyssa Cosnek leads the underclassmen effort with three goals, four assists and 10 points, followed by Morgan Showalter and Alyscha Mottershead who each have three goals, three assists, and nine points.

On the defensive side, Moran has played just over 845 minutes in goal. The sophomore has already notched her name in fifth place on the all-time career saves list with 103.

Up Next For Iowa

The Hawkeyes hit the road for two games against conference power houses, Ohio State and Penn State.

Ohio State currently leads the conference after the opening weekend’s games, while Penn State won the conference title in 2008.

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