Sept. 25, 2011
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The University of Iowa women’s soccer team ended the weekend on the road with a 1-1 draw with Purdue Sunday. The two teams faced off in West Lafayette, playing through 110 minutes before reaching the decision. Iowa is 9-0-2 on the season.
Boilermaker freshman Alex Hairston pushed the ball up the midfield early in the first 45 minutes of play. Hairston passed it off to the left and repositioned inside the six-yard box. Senior Emily Moran made a diving attempt at the pass into the box, but the ball slipped under her arm, allowing Purdue to score first.
The Hawkeyes responded to the 1-0 deficit at the 23rd minute. Freshman Cloe Lacasse got ahold of the ball after it slipped through Purdue’s defensive setup. Lacasse fed the ball to sophomore Leah DeMoss who converted the pass into a score with a one-time touch. Boilermaker goalkeeper Clara Kridler was able to get a hand on it, but unable to wrap it up, allowing DeMoss’s shot to slip into the right side of the net.
Iowa had opportunities late in the game and in overtime to put the game away, but Purdue’s defense held strong through the two extra periods of play. The overtime match between the two opponents is the fourth consecutive match in West Lafayette that has gone to overtime. The Hawkeyes got the draw, marking the first time in that streak they were able to get the decision.
In the 75th minute of play, sophomore Katie Nasenbenny went down with an injury. Nasenbenny was helped off the field and will have an MRI upon returning to Iowa City. The LaGrange, Ill., native bounced back after a season-ending knee injury last season to be one of Iowa’s most productive players through the first 11 games this season. Nasenbenny has four goals, including two game-winners.
“The first three games have been what we thought,” said head coach Ron Rainey. “They have all been difficult and emotional games. While our technical focus this week will be on converting chances, our effort level, mentality and intensity, all of the things we can control were what we want them to be. I’m proud of how the weekend went, but now we need to get some rest.”
Rainey and the Hawkeyes are back in action Friday night at the Iowa Soccer Complex. The team hosts Michigan at 7:00 p.m. Iowa will take on Michigan State Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Iowa City.