Iowa Ready to Return to the Pitch

Oct. 2, 2012

Week Eight Notes

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s soccer team finishes its three match Big Ten road trip Sunday at Minnesota. The Hawkeyes will meet the Golden Gophers at 1 p.m. (CT) at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium in Minneapolis. Live results will be available via GameTracker, and the match will be streamed online through the BTN Digital Network.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Golden Gophers (7-6-0, 2-3-0) are coming off a 4-3 loss to No. 8 Penn State, and currently sit eighth in the Big Ten standings. Minnesota’s two conference wins came against Michigan State and Wisconsin. The Golden Gophers have outscored their opponents 29-18 and rank second in the Big Ten in shots, behind Iowa. Minnesota ranks 10th in the league in goals against average. The Golden Gophers are led by Taylor Uhl, who leads the Big Ten in points (34) and goals (13). Cat Parkhill has started every match in goal, and has a .717 save percentage and 1.37 goals against average.

IOWA 0, No. 23 MICHIGAN 0 (2OT)
The Hawkeyes battled to a hard-fought double overtime draw against a ranked Big Ten opponent on the road Friday, tying No. 23 Michigan, 0-0, after 110 minutes of play. Iowa held the Wolverines to one shot on goal in the first half. The Hawkeyes nearly found the game-winner in the 88th minute, but junior Alex Melin’s header went wide of the post. Iowa finished with 13 shots, led by junior Ashley Catrell with four shots. Freshmen Meg Goodson and Hannah Clark earned the combined shutout in goal. Clark finished with seven saves.

IOWA 0, MICHIGAN STATE 0 (20T)
Iowa earned its second-straight double overtime draw against another conference foe away from home, battling to a scoreless draw with Michigan State. Sophomore Cloe Lacasse almost found net in the final minute of double overtime off a breakaway, but a tremendous save halted her shot. Lacasse and sophomore Melanie Pickert led Iowa with two shots, while Goodson and Clark earned the combined shutout. Iowa used 18 players in the match.

HAWKEYES TIE SHUTOUT RECORD
With six regular season matches left, the Hawkeyes have already tied the program record for shutouts in a season (9). Iowa also had nine shutouts last season. The Hawkeyes shutout Eastern Illinois, North Dakota, Loyola Chicago, Northern Iowa, LIU Brooklyn, Saint Louis, and Big Ten opponents Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State.

HAWKEYES NINTH IN NATION
Iowa ranks ninth in the nation in win-loss-tie percentage, and first in the Big Ten. Nationally, only Navy has more wins than Iowa.

CLARK EARNS LEAGUE HONORS
Freshman Hannah Clark was named Big Ten Co-Defensive and Co-Freshman Player of the Week for her efforts in two Iowa shutouts last weekend. Clark played 130 minutes total at goalkeeper against Michigan and Michigan State, tallying 11 saves without allowing a goal.

DOMINATING DEFENSE
The Hawkeye defense has allowed just seven goals through 14 contests, shutting down opposing offenses on a consistent basis. Iowa ranks first in the Big Ten in saves (74) and shutouts (9), and second in goals allowed (7) and goals against average (0.49). The Hawkeyes have shutout three of their past four Big Ten opponents. Iowa ranks eighth nationally in goals against average and 13th in shutout percentage.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Hawkeyes rank second in the nation in save percentage (.914), behind Florida State. Iowa’s goalkeeper rotation of freshmen Meg Goodson and Hannah Clark have highlighted the defense this season. Both rank among the top in the conference.

Clark ranks first in the Big Ten in save percentage (.919), second in goals against average (0.41) and tenth in saves (34). The Fort Collins, Colo., native has allowed three goals in over 660 minutes played. Goodson ranks fourth in the Big Ten in save percentage (.892) and fifth in goals against average (0.67). The Van Meter, Iowa, native has allowed four goals in 540 minutes played. Goodson has an active shutout streak of 197 minutes.

CONSISTENCY IN THE LINEUP
The Hawkeyes have used stability in their lineup this season, starting the same player for every match in eight of 11 positions. Jade Grimm, Katie Brown, Melanie Pickert, Kat Lewis, Anne Marie Thomas, Ashley Catrell, Katie Nasenbenny and Dana Dalrymple have started every match. Alex Melin and Cloe Lacasse have started all but one match this season.

STAT FACTS
The Hawkeyes rank near the top of the Big Ten in several major statistics. Iowa ranks first in shots (238), penalty kick accuracy (3-3), saves (74) and shutouts (9), second in points (96), goals (35), goals allowed (7), goals against average (0.49), victory margin (+2.0) and goals per game (2.50), and fourth in assists (26) and corners (65). Iowa also ranks second in the nation in win-loss-tie percentage, eighth in scoring offense, 11th in save percentage, 18th in goals against average and 24th in shutout percentage.

IOWA IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa moved up the 39th in the NSCAA RPI Poll, and is receiving votes in the NSCAA Coaches’ Poll. The Hawkeyes remained third in the NSCAA Great Lakes Poll behind Penn State and Michigan. The Hawkeyes also rank 31st in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Tournament 64 Rankings.

HAWKEYES PERFECT AT HOME
The Hawkeyes are undefeated within the confines of the Iowa Soccer Complex, sporting a 6-0-0 record at home. Iowa has outscored its opponents 19-3 at home, and is one of two undefeated and untied teams at home in the league.

HAWKEYES DOMINATING STATS
Iowa has looked just as impressive in the stat book as it has on the field this season. Iowa averages 2.50 goals per match, while its opponents average just .50 goals per match. The Hawkeyes have outscored their opponents 35-7 this season. Iowa holds a 238-191 advantage in shots, 110-81 in shots on goal and 65-52 lead in corner kicks. Iowa has a .462 shot on goal percentage, and is average 17 shots per game.

HAWKEYES START FAST
Iowa has taken a lead into halftime in 11 of 14 matches this season, and has trailed heading into the break just once. The Hawkeyes have outscored their opponents 19-2 in the first half.

LACASSE LEADS DANGEROUS OFFENSE
Sophomore Cloe Lacasse has been the catalyst for the Big Ten’s second best offense this season, leading Iowa with 28 points on 11 goals and six assists.

Lacasse ranks sixth in the country in total goals (11), sixth in total points (28), 11th in game-winning goals (4), 15th points per game (2.00), 19th in goals per game (.786), and 26th in total assists (6). She also ranks second in the Big Ten in points and goals, and fourth in assists and shots. Lacasse has 23 goals, 12 assists and 58 points in her career. She is fourth in goals and tied for fourth on Iowa’s all-time records list.

IOWA FINISHES PERFECT IN NONCONFERENCE
Iowa finished undefeated in nonconference play for the second consecutive season. Iowa went 9-0-0 and outscored its opponents 30-3 before opening Big Ten play. Iowa has won its past 18 nonconference matches, outscoring its opponents 71-8 in that stretch. Iowa is undefeated in its past 19 nonconference matches, with its last loss coming on Sept. 19, 2010.

HAWKEYES GET BEST START IN PROGRAM HISTORY
The Hawkeyes opened the season with their best start in program history, going undefeated and untied in their first nine matches. Iowa topped its previous best start from, where the Hawkeyes won their first eight matches last 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.

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 63 victories with the Hawkeyes, and sports a 154-120-36 overall coaching record.

Rainey guided Iowa to its most successful season in program history last year, 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.