Aug 22, 2013
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Game Notes — at Drake/vs. Western Michigan
THE MATCH-UP
The University of Iowa soccer program will open the 2013 regular season at Drake on Friday at 7 p.m. (CT) at the Cownie Soccer Complex in Des Moines, Iowa. The Hawkeyes will then make their home regular season debut Sunday at 1 p.m., hosting Western Michigan at the Iowa Soccer Complex.
ON THE WEB
Iowa soccer fans can follow both contests via live stats (GameTracker) on hawkeyesports.com. Click on the “GT” link found on both the front page and the soccer schedule page to access the live stats feed.
SUNDAY PROMOTIONS
The first 100 kids will receive an Iowa Hawkeye back-to-school goody bag for “Back to School Day”. Free posters and schedule cards will be available, and an autograph session will take place post-game.
SCOUTING DRAKE
The Bulldogs finished the 2012 season with a 12-5-3 record and a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake was strong at home, posting a 9-1-1 record at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
Drake returns a strong nucleus of players, with junior Ashlie Stokes and seniors Megan Fisher, Brittany Schuling, and Kalena Litch each being named to the preseason All-MVC first team. Stokes and senior Generve Charles paced the Bulldogs in scoring, netting seven and six goals, respectively.
Lindsey Horner returns for her sixth season as Drake’s head coach.
DRAKE VS. IOWA — THE SERIES
? Iowa leads the all-time series over Drake, 5-1-0.
? The Hawkeyes won the last meeting between the two teams, 6-0, in an exhibition match during the 2011 season. Iowa won the last regular season meeting in 2009 by the count of 1-0 in Des Moines.
SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan went 5-8-4 last season, finishing sixth in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference.
The Broncos open their regular season with a home contest against Saint Louis on Aug. 23. Western Michigan has played two exhibition games against Michigan and IPFW, losing to the Wolverines by a score of 5-0, and tying the Mastodons, 2-2.
Western Michigan returns its top three goal scorers from last season in juniors Rachel Chaney, Diana Dedvukaj, and Aubrey Sudomier. Chaney led the squad with four strikes.
Western Michigan is guided by second-year head coach Nate Norman.
WESTERN MICHIGAN VS. IOWA — THE SERIES
Sunday marks the first meeting in the all-time series.
LAST GAME
The Hawkeyes romped Milwaukee on Aug. 17 during their exhibition match in Iowa City by a score of 4-1. Junior Cloe Lacasse took five shots on goal, tallying one goal and collecting two assists. Juniors Anne Marie Thomas and Emily Scott and sophomore Brooke Backes also found the back of the net, while junior Melanie Pickert had two assists.
ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH
Entering his eighth season as Iowa head coach, Ron Rainey is the winningest coach in school history. He has compiled a 65-60-16 record, which includes 25 victories the past two seasons. The stretch is the best in program history, including a 13-win season in 2011.
TEAM CAPTAINS
Senior Alex Melin and junior Caitlin Brown have been voted team captains for the 2013 Iowa soccer team.
NONCONFERENCE DOMINANCE
Over the past two seasons, Iowa has been dominant in non-league competition. The Hawkeyes have compiled an 18-0 nonconference record during the stretch.
Iowa’s last nonconference loss came during the 2010 season against Nebraska, a year before they joined the Big Ten.
During the two-year period, the Hawkeyes have outscored their opponents, 65-8.
DUELING GOALIES
Sophomore Hannah Clark and junior Kiley Beck shared time in goal during last Saturday’s exhibition.
Clark allowed one goal and made two saves during her 52 :11 time in goal. Beck made three saves and allowed no goals in her 37:49 stay in front of the net.
RETURN OF THE SCORING LEADERS
Iowa returns three of its top four scorers from last year in juniors Cloe Lacasse and Katie Nasenbenny and senior Ashley Catrell.
Lacasse netted 13 goals for the eighth highest total in the Big Ten in 2012. She tied for fourth in the conference with five game-winning goals. Catrell scored seven goals last season, pushing her career total to 12, and Nasenbenny added four goals, one short of her career best five in 2011.
TRANSFER ADDED
Junior Emily Scott joined the Hawkeye soccer program this fall after two seasons at Milwaukee.
Scott started every game as a freshman at central defender, and played every minute of the 2012 season at the position.
The Tinley Park, Ill. native tallied a goal in an exhibition match against her former team on Aug. 17.
HAWKEYES ON TV
Iowa will appear on BTN at least once this season, and the Big Ten Digital Network at least three times.
The Hawkeyes’ Sept. 22 contest with Michigan will be broadcast live on BTN. The match will begin at 1 p.m. (CT).
The Big Ten Digital Network will broadcast Iowa’s games against Northern Iowa (Sept. 17), Michigan State (Oct. 6), and Ohio State (Oct. 27).
The BTN will also be televising the Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 6-10.
LACASSE HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
In just two years, junior Cloe Lacasse has made her mark on the Iowa soccer program.
The Sudbury, Ontario, native is currently tied for fourth for the most goals in a career (25), tied for third in career points (63), and fourth in career shots (152).
Lacasse has led Iowa in goals scored, points, and shots taken in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Lacasse was named Iowa’s MVP in 2012, scoring goals in each of the team’s first nine matches. She was named to the Madness’ 2012 all Big Ten first-team by CollegeSportsMadness.com, and was an All-Great Lakes Region second team honoree by the NSCAA.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Three current members of the Iowa soccer team were named B1G Distinguished Scholars for the 2012-13 academic term.
Juniors Kiley Beck, Katie Nasenbenny and Caitlin Brown all maintained a 4.0 GPA for the term.
B1G IN THE POLLS
Penn State, Michigan, and Ohio State found themselves in the initial NSCAA Top 25 poll of the 2013 season.
Penn State was ranked No. 4 in the poll. The Nittany Lions won the Big Ten in 2012, finishing with a conference record of 10-0-1.
Michigan came in at No. 19. The Wolverines finished third with a 7-2-2 conference mark.
Ohio State was voted No. 23 in the poll after going 8-2-1 in 2012, which gave it a runner-up Big Ten finish.
Illinois also received votes.