Aug. 29, 2012
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This Week
The University of Iowa soccer team travels to Ames, Iowa, Friday to meet Iowa State in an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. at the ISU Soccer Complex.
The Hawkeyes return home on Sunday, hosting Valparaiso at the Iowa Soccer Complex. First touch is set for 1 p.m.
Scouting The Opponents
The Cyclones are coming off their first loss of the season, a 1-0 setback against No. 16 Virginia Tech. Iowa State started with three straight wins, all of them shutouts. Iowa State has outscored their opponents 6-1.
The Cyclone offensive attack has been led by Emily Goldstein. The junior midfielder has two goals and an assist. Junior goalkeeper Maddie Jobe is 3-1-0 between the posts. Iowa State went 9-9-1 overall last season.
Valparaiso is off to a 2-1-1 start this season, with victories against IUPUI and Towson. The Crusaders last match resulted in a 1-0 setback at DePaul. Valparaiso is led offensively by three players with one goal to their name this season. Junior goalkeeper Kristen Manski has played every minute this season.
Hawkeyes Start Strong
The Hawkeyes are one of four teams in program history to start with four consecutive victories (1998, 2000, 2011). After wins against Eastern Illinois and North Dakota to start the season, Iowa stayed on track with two more victores last week.
Iowa earned a convincingly 4-0 victory against Loyola University Chicago at home on Friday. The Hawkeyes went into the half up 3-0 with goals from junior Ashley Catrell (16′) and sophomores Cloe Lacasse (20′) and Katie Nasenbenny (28′). Iowa added to its advantage in the second half when Catrell found the net for the second time (67′). Iowa outshot Loyola 18-7. Freshman Hannah Clark earned the win between the posts.
The Hawkeyes looked just as sharp two days later, handing Northern Iowa its first loss of the season two days later on the road. Iowa won, 3-0, to improve its all-time series record against the Panthers to 10-0-0.
Lacasse scored the matches’ first goal on a breakaway in the 34th minute. Iowa played great soccer in the second half, and would win going away. Catrell scored in the 50th minute to add to Iowa’s advantage, and sophomore Nicole Urban scored in the 80th minute to make it final. Freshman Meg Goodson started at goalkeeper and took the win, notching one save.
Hawkeyes On Top of Big Ten Standings
Iowa currently sits atop the Big Ten standings, sharing the top spot with Michigan and Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes are one of two teams in the conference with a perfect 4-0-0 record. It is the second year in a row Iowa has climbed to No. 1 in Big Ten standings at some point in the season.
The Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten in shots (81), shutouts (4) and penalty kick accuracy (2-2). Iowa is tied for first in goals per game (3.75), total goals (15), goals allowed (0) and goals allowed average (0.0). Iowa is second in the league in total points (38).
Iowa Draws Ranking
The Hawkeyes are one of three new teams to make their first appearance in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Tournament 64 National Ranking. Iowa deputed at No. 41. Only four Big Ten squads are ranked higher.
Lacasse Earns Weekly Award
Sophomore Cloe Lacasse was named Forward of the Week by TopDrawerSoccer.com. The striker was just one of five players nationally to earn the honor. Lacasse netted two goals and two assists last weekend.
NonConference Success
Iowa has won 13 consecutive nonconference matches, outscoring its opponents 56-5 in that stretch. The Hawkeyes have played 14 consecutive nonconference matches without a loss. Iowa’s last loss in nonconference play came on Sept. 19, 2010, at Nebraska (3-1).
In-State Dominance
Iowa is undefeated in its last six meetings with Iowa State, and have defeated them four consecutive times. The Hawkeyes have outscored their rival 13-3 the past four years. Iowa holds the series advantage, 7-4-2.
The Hawkeyes are unbeaten in their last 14 in-state regular season matches. In that stretch, Iowa has a 5-0-1 advantage over Iowa State, 6-0-0 advantage over Northern Iowa and a 2-0-0 advantage over Drake. Iowa has outscored its in-state foes 36-3 in that stretch.
Shutout Streak
Iowa has started the season with four consecutive shutouts for the first time in program history. Iowa is just one of two Big Ten teams yet to allow a goal (Wisconsin).
The Hawkeyes have used a trio of goalkeepers to secure the clean sheets, with sophomore Kiley Beck and freshmen Hannah Clark and Meg Goodson each having a part in four combined shutouts.
Clark holds a 3-0-0 record and has played 197 minutes, notching four saves. Goodson is 1-0-0 with five saves, playing a total of 90 minutes. Beck has played 73 minutes and registered three saves.
Hawkeyes Dominating Stats
Iowa has looked just as impressive in the stat book as it has on the field this season.
The Hawkeyes have outscored their opponents 15-0 this season, and have outshot them 81-27. Iowa holds a 40-12 advatage in shots on goal. Iowa is averaging 3.75 goals per game and has a .494 shot on goal percentage.
Breakout Start
Junior Ashley Catrell is off to a breakout start in 2012, scoring five goals through four games. The Overland Park, Kan., native had five career goals entering this season. Catrell scored twice against Loyola University Chicago, and has found net once in every other match this season.
Lacasse Lethal On Goal
Opposing goalkeepers have had their work cut out for them when it comes to defending sophomore Cloe Lacasse. Lacasse has scored five goals through four games this season, and has scored 17 goals through 24 games played in her career.
The Sudbury, Ontario, native also has contributed to the attack with her passing, leading the team with three assists. Lacasse has nine assists in her career, as well as 43 total points. She leads the team with 13 points this season.
Roster Gets Experience
Head coach Ron Rainey has played every player at his disposal this season.
Every player on the roster has seen the field this season for at least two games. Twenty-one players have seen playing time in all four games this season. All seven freshmen have seen the field in every game this season.
Urban Gets On Board
Sophomore Nicole Urban scored her first career goal on Sunday in the 80th minute of Iowa’s contest against Northern Iowa.
The Lisle, Ill., native made a great run to the left post, and freshman Brooke Backes sent an accurate pass to Urban for an easy goal. Urban has five shots and four shots on goal this season.
Team Captains
The Hawkeyes have three team captains this season. Senior Dana Dalrymple and juniors Alex Melin and Kat Lewis were voted as captains by their teammates.
Hawkeyes on tv
Iowa will appear live on Big Ten Network at least twice this season.
Iowa’s Big Ten opener against Illinois on Sept. 16 will be televised live. The match begins at 3 p.m. in Champaign, Ill. The Hawkeyes will appear live on BTN on Sept. 30 when they travel to Michigan State. The match will begin at 1 p.m. in East Lansing, Mich.
Ron Rainey
Iowa head coach Ron Rainey enters his seventh season at the helm of the program as the winningest coach in program history. Rainey has 57 victories with the Hawkeyes, and sports a 147-119-34 overall coaching record.
Rainey guided Iowa to its most successful season in program history last season, as Iowa went 13-4-3 and had its highest winning percentage ever. Rainey has guided the Hawkeyes to three Big Ten Tournaments, and has helped five Hawkeyes earn All-Big Ten honors.