Sept. 9, 2011
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s soccer team improved to 6-0 after defeating intrastate rival, Iowa State 4-1, Friday night at the Iowa Soccer Complex. The Hawkeyes earned two points for Iowa in the race for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk trophy. The win also marked the fourth year in a row Iowa women’s soccer has topped Iowa State.
Freshman standout Cloé Lacasse jump started Iowa’s offense early in the game. With speed and control, Lacasse out worked the defense twice in the first 15 minutes of play, scoring her seventh and eighth goals of the season. The first came after sophomore Alex Melin served the ball ahead on the left side of the field, while the second was converted after junior Kat Lewis pushed the ball up field to Lacasse. The freshman is Iowa’s leading scorer with eight goals and two assists for 18 points.
With just over ten minutes left in the half, Iowa earned a corner kick opportunity. Senior Morgan Showalter booted one just left of the center of the field. Classmate Rachel Blakesley cut through the visitor’s line of defense with a powerful line drive shot straight into the right corner of the net. Blakesley’s goal, posted at the 31:52 mark, is the second of her career.
Junior Dana Dalrymple tried to improve Iowa’s lead just minutes later with shot at new Cyclone keeper, Andrea Swanson, but Swanson was able to make the save. The Hawkeye’s offense controlled the ball with good possessions and solid defense for the entire first half, recording 13 shots to Iowa State’s four.
After the half, the Iowa State offense picked up the speed, but the effort was not enough to catch Iowa off guard and net a quick goal. Instead, Iowa matched the intensity from the whistle, regained control and put the pressure on, firing four shots in ten minutes.
In the 63rd minute, Showalter made the trip to the corner again, this time on the left side of the field. Melin was the teammate that athletically turned a corner kick into a goal for Iowa. The sophomore elevated higher than the defenders allowing her header to find the net after narrowly missing the crossbar.
Late in the second half, Iowa State’s tempo increased significantly and the team was able to score back to back corner kick opportunities. The Hawkeyes cleared the first after several close calls in the box, but the second corner kick was converted into a Cyclone goal.
Senior Emily Moran was credited with 90 minutes between the posts, making four saves and allowing one goal. The Hawkeye veteran increases her career win total to 28 with the victory.
“That was one of the better halves of soccer that I have seen in my time here,” Head Coach Ron Rainey said of his team’s first half play. “We had some great possessions and solid finishes. Then, we played some simple and safe defense which I think put Iowa State on their heels a little bit. I really believe that first half of play really made the difference in the game.”
Iowa hosts South Dakota Sunday afternoon at the Iowa Soccer Complex. The” Heroes Game” is set to kickoff at 1 p.m. and will have tributes throughout the afternoon to local heroes and those in uniform that serve the United States.