Sept. 4, 2009
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 season)
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- Iowa soccer wallpaper
- Iowasoccer.com
The University of Iowa women’s soccer team played a tough 90 minutes in Flagstaff, Friday night, but fell to New Mexico, 1-0, in its first game at the Mountain Classic. The tournament, hosted by Northern Arizona, features the Hawkeyes, New Mexico, Northern Arizona and Oakland.
“I think we created great chances in the second half tonight, but we just need to do a better job of capitalizing on them on Sunday,” Head Coach Ron Rainey said. “I think Northern Arizona will be a good challenge for us to close out the weekend. I also think we need to work on being a ball winning team all over the field. That will help us get the wins.”
The Hawkeyes were ready to go for Friday’s matchup. Just eight seconds into the game, Keli McLaughlin set the offensive pace for Iowa with a shot on goal. New Mexico’s goalkeeper made the save, and advanced the ball down the field for a New Mexico shot at the 26 second mark that was high.
New Mexico took several shots, including two shots that were wide in the 16th and 19th minutes and one that was saved by Iowa goalkeeper, Emily Moran, in the 26th minute.
Freshman Dana Dalrymple revived the Iowa offense with a shot in the 32nd minute that narrowly missed the goal.
Moran secured the save on an attempt by New Mexico’s Alexis Ball in the 40th minute. Ball took a shot again a minute later that was high of the crossbar.
New Mexico came out firing in the second half with shots in the 50th and 51st minutes, but Kent, OH native, Emily Moran, took control and made saves on both.
In the nine minutes that followed, the teams took a combined of six shots. Moran made saves on three attempts, while the fourth was blocked. Sophomore Alyssa Cosnek took aim at the net, but ended up wide of the goal, and Jenna Aleo nearly netted a ball in the 54th minute, but the Lobos’ goalkeeper, Kelli Cornell, made the save.
Morgan Showalter made an attempt to keep her consecutive goal streak going with a ball fired at the net at the 61:16 mark that was just high and hit the crossbar. The ball was rebounded and played again by McLaughlin, also wide of the net. Cosnek made one last effort at the goal in the 63rd minute, but Cornell was there to snag the ball.
The Lobos made the first goal of the game in the 69th minute. A corner kick by Jennifer Williams was in the right spot for Nicole Reed to get the goal with a header. The goal was the first allowed by Iowa in three consecutive games.
The Hawkeyes did not let the goal deter their efforts. Showalter got the offensive action going just 23 seconds later with a shot of her own. The ball missed the target, but McLaughlin made an attempt in the 70th minute. That ball also soared wide of the goal.
In a final attempt to score, a corner kick by Alex Seydel in the 84th minute found its way to McLaughlin. The junior took aim at the net with just over five minutes left, but the ball slipped past the goal post. Dalrymple wouldn’t let the play die however, but a ball meant for the net was returned by the crossbar.
With four minutes left, Moran made her seventh save of the game. Moran played all 90 minutes, her fourth consecutive game in goal for Iowa, made seven saves and allowed only a single goal.
Alyssa Cosnek led the Hawkeye’s offense with three shots, two on goal.
Iowa will face Northern Arizona on Sunday at 3 p.m.