Oct. 26, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format
This Week
The University of Iowa soccer team travels to Madison, Wis., for its final game of the regular season. The Hawkeyes and Badgers are set to kickoff at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the McClimon Soccer Complex.
Scouting The Opponents
Wisconsin is third in the Big Ten standings with five conference victories, two losses and three draws. The Badgers have out-scored their opponents 27-16, earning a 10-5-3 overall record. Wisconsin is on a two-game win streak, notching wins over Indiana (2-0) and Purdue (5-1) last weekend.
Offensively, Cara Walls leads the teams efforts with nine goals and one assist. Teammates Laurie Nosbusch and Alev Kelter have also made big contributions to the team’s scoring with six and four goals, respectively. Nosbusch also has six assists.
In goal for the Badgers is Michele Dalton. The senior has started all 18 games, recording 89 saves and six shutouts.
Head Coach Paula Wilkins is in her fifth season with the Badgers. Wilkins led the program to its best finish in over a decade after the team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2010. Under Wilkins, the Badgers are 46-35-16.
Last Week Iowa
started the weekend on the road with a game at Nebraska last Thursday. The team fell in overtime in Lincoln, 1-0.
The Hawkeyes bounced back quickly, hosting Northwestern at home, earning a 6-1 decision on Senior Day.
Behind two goal performances from freshman Cloe Lacass and sophomore Leah DeMoss and goals by juniors Jade Grimm and Dana Dalrymple, the team put the hurt on the Wildcats. Iowa allowed a goal from 25 yards out in the game, but senior goalkeeper Emily Moan made five saves in 90 minutes in goal.
After the weekend, Iowa’s overall record improves to 12-4-2 overall and 4-4-2 in Big Ten play.
Scoring Machine
Lacasse scored twice in Sunday’s win over Northwestern, giving her 12 goals on the season. The freshman moved up to tie with Kate Walse (2000) for second on Iowa’s all-time goals in a season list, trailing leader Sarah Lynch by three.
The Sudbury, Ontario native also tallied an assist in the match, giving her six on the season. The feat helps her break into the single season assists record list at sixth. Lacasse has accumulated 30 points on the season, making her second all-time in the program for points in a season. Lynch leads this category as well with 36.
Moran Breaks New Record
Senior Emily Moran has already claimed the top spot for all-time career wins with 34, but after a victory on Sunday, she rose to the top of the season wins leader list as well. Moran ousted former Hawkeye greats Britta Vogele (2002), Liz Hendel (2000) and Missy Wickart (1999), who all recorded 11-win seasons. Moran has earned 12 wins in goal this season, including five shutouts, as the team’s veteran goalkeeper.
Moran is also second on the career saves list (343) and sixth on the saves in a season list (99, 2010).
Showalter All-Time Assists Leader
Morgan Showalter became Iowa’s all-time assists leader this season after surpassing Sarah Lynch (20, 1999-2002) and equaled the season assists record she set in 2008 (9).
The senior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa currently has 27 career assists. She became the program’s all-time leader with an assist on sophomore Katie Nasenbenny’s goal against SEMO (Aug. 21). The timing was fitting, as the goal proved to be one of two necessary to beat the Redhawks and help senior Emily Moran to her 24th career victory and the all-time career leader distinction.
Showalter tallied two assists in Sunday’s win, giving her nine for the season, a mark she reached during her freshman campaign. Showalter is tied atop the list with Linzy Wolman (2000), Sarah Kiefer (2000) and Julie Atkocaitis (1999).
D-Fense, D-Fense
Iowa’s defense has played a major role in the team’s success this season, allowing just 17 goals and boasting a 0.92 goals allowed average.
Only three of 18 opponents have been able to score more than one goal on the Hawkeyes, while six have been held scoreless.
Credit for the achievment goes to seniors, Moran in goal, Showalter and Rachel Blakesley, junior Kat Lewis and newcomers Katie Brown and Melanie Pickert. The group has ensured the team’s success by clearing attempts from opponents and minimizing the number of shots team’s get on goal (5.67/game).
Ron Rainey
Iowa’s head coach Ron Rainey, became the winningest coach in program history last season and now has 52 wins in six seasons.
Rainey’s 2011 squad is the most successful during his tenure and the second most successful in the soccer program’s 14 year history. With a 12-4-2 record, the team has the best win percentage of any Iowa team (.722) and trails the most wins by one.
Big Ten Tournament
The Big Ten Conference has reinstated the Big Ten soccer tournament after a two-year hiatus. The last tournament, held in 2008, was at the Iowa Soccer Complex.
Northwestern is the host for the 2011 tournament. Games are scheduled for Wednesday (Nov. 2), Friday (Nov. 4) and Sunday (Nov. 6). The top seven teams in the conference standings advance to Evanston. Northwestern has an automatic bye as the host team.
Road Trip
Iowa is set to play its final game on the road this weekend at Wisconsin.
The Hawkeyes played four of their final five games away from Iowa City. This season, the team has earned a 5-2-1 mark in competition outside of Iowa City, including 2-2-1 in Big Ten play.
Big Ten Competition
The Big Ten Conference is one of the nation’s most competitive women’s soccer leagues, with Penn State and Illinois among the top-25 and one other institution receiving votes in the NSCAA Coaches poll released Oct. 26.
The Hawkeyes have received votes for several weeks after gaining national recognition for their school record-setting 11-game unbeaten streak, and are the only team receiving votes this week.
The conference had six squads — Wisconsin, Penn State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Illinois and Michigan — make it to the NCAA Women’ s Soccer Championship in 2010. Three of those schools advanced to the second round and Ohio State made it to the semifinals before falling to eventual national champion Notre Dame, 4-3.
Lacasse Named Top-20 To Watch
Freshman Cloe Lacasse was named one of the Big Ten Conference’s Top-20 College Players to Watch by topdrawersoccer.com. The Hawkeye newcomer is one of only two freshmen in the conference to make the top-20 cut.
Lacasse helped lead Iowa to its winningest season in history (12-4-2) through 18 games, and has scored 12 goals and tallied six assists. In addition to the top-20 accolade, Lacasse was also recognized by the league office as the Freshman Athlete of the Week in back-to-back weeks (Sept. 5, 12).
The freshman is leaving an impact on the Iowa program, rapidly climbing the single season goals and points lists. Lacasse has 12 goals and 30 points through 18 games, trailing the No. 1 spot in each category by one goal and six points, respectively.
Hawkeyes Set School Record
The 2011 squad is on a roll this season with an 12-4-2 record. The eight-game winning and 11-game unbeaten streaks Iowa opened the season with are both program records.
The Hawkeyes equaled the previous best start with a win over George Washington (Sept. 2), improving to a 4-0 record, then bested it with a 3-1 victory against American (Sept. 4).
The previous record for season-opening wins was recorded by the 2000 team. Under head coach Wendy Logan, the team recorded wins over UW-Green Bay (5-1), Northern Illinois (3-0), UNLV (3-0) and Utah State (2-1).
Freshman Gets Conference Nod
Lacasse was announced as the conference’s Freshman Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week Sept. 12.
The Sudbury, Ontario, native led Iowa’s offense for the fourth week in a row, scoring three goals and recording one assist. Lacasse played a role in four of the team’s nine total goals against Iowa State and South Dakota.
Lacasse was previously named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 5, following Iowa’s wins over George Washington and American. She became the second Iowa freshman to earn the award and the only one to earn back-to-back honors.
Senior Earns Conference Honor
Emily Moran was honored by the Big Ten Conference with the Defensive Player of the Week distinction Aug. 22.
Moran earned the nod for her efforts in Iowa’s shutout win over DePaul and a 2-1 defeat of SEMO. In addition to the 2-0 record, Moran etched her name atop the programs all-time career wins after earning the 25th of her career, (SEMO, Aug. 21).