Hawkeyes Head to West Coast

Aug 29, 2013

Game Notes — at UC Davis/Pacific

THE MATCH-UP
The University of Iowa soccer team travels to the West Coast to take on UC Davis on Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) at Knoles Soccer Field in Stockton, Calif. The Hawkeyes will play Pacific at 1 p.m. (CT) on Sunday at the same location.

SCOUTING UC DAVIS
The Aggies opened their regular season by defeating Sacramento State 1-0 in their home-opener.

Sophomore Haley Hughes scored the lone goal for the UC Davis, and junior goalkeeper Taylor Jern earned Big West Defensive Player of the Week honors last week for her shutout over Sacramento State.

UC Davis went 8-9-2 in 2012, finishing seventh in the Big West Conference. The Aggies return their top-three leading scorers from last season in senior Ashley Edwards, who had seven goals in 2012, senior Kiele Argente and sophomore Sienna Drizin, who accrued four goals each. Drizin tied for the team lead in assists with three, and was also named to the All-Big West second team and All-Freshman team.

The Aggies are led by head coach Maryclaire Robinson, who is in her 22nd season at the helm.

UC DAVIS VS. IOWA — THE SERIES
? This is the first meeting between the two schools.

SCOUTING PACIFIC
Pacific is 0-2 on the year after falling in road contests against Missouri and Kansas by scores of 5-1 and 3-0, respectively.

Last season, the Tigers finished with a 3-14-1 record and finished 10th in the Big West with an 0-8-1 mark.

Pacific is led by freshman Alex Hussar, who has scored one goal on the season. Three goalies, Jacqueline Kane, Tashia Long and Lena Perry, have seen action for the Tigers.

Pacific guided by Keith Coleman, who is in his 19th season as head coach.

PACIFIC VS. IOWA — THE SERIES
? This is the first meeting between the two schools.

LAST GAME
The Hawkeyes defeated Western Michigan, 3-1, on Aug. 25. Junior Melanie Pickert led Iowa with two goals, the first multi-goal game of her career. Iowa pushed its nonconference winning streak to 20 games in the victory. Senior Ashley Catrell collected a goal and tallied an assist in the contest.

ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH
In his eighth season as Iowa head coach, Ron Rainey is the winningest coach in school history. He has compiled a 67-60-16 record, which includes 27 victories the past two plus 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
The Hawkeyes have been dominant in non-league competition dating back to the 2011 season. The Hawkeyes have compiled a 20-0 nonconference record during the stretch.

Iowa’s last nonconference loss came during the 2010 season against Nebraska, a year before it joined the Big Ten.

Since the 2011 season, the Hawkeyes have outscored their nonconference opponents, 69-9.

CLARK TAKES HOLD OF GOAL
Sophomore Hannah Clark has played every minute of the nonconference season in goal for the Hawkeyes, making five saves and allowing only one goal.

Clark has a 0.50 goals against average, which ranks third in the Big Ten.

Clark made two saves in Iowa’s 1-0 shutout victory over Drake on Aug. 23 in its season-opener. It was the Colorado native’s second career shutout.

PERFECT ON PENALTY KICKS
Iowa has attempted and connected on a penalty kick in each of its first two regular season games.

In the Hawkeyes’ Aug. 23 match at Drake, sophomore Lana Bonekemper netted the only goal with a penalty kick in the 75th minute, yielding a 1-0 victory for Iowa.

Senior Ashley Catrell scored a goal via a penalty kick in Iowa’s Aug. 25 victory over Western Michigan, after senior Alex Melin drew hard contact from the Bronco’s goalie in the box.

The Hawkeyes were 4-of-4 in penalty kicks in 2012.

OUTSHOOTING THE OPPONENT
In two games, Iowa has outshot its opponents 35-19.

In the first half, the Hawkeyes have attempted 23 shots compared to their opposition’s nine.

PICKERT’S HOT START
Junior Melanie Pickert has already collected four points on the season, and is already more than halfway to her 2012 total of seven.

Pickert has two goals on the season, doubling her 2012 output, and pushing her career total to three. Pickert’s two goals are tied for third in the Big Ten.

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.

AGGRESSIVE PLAY
Iowa’s 2012 leading scorers, senior Ashley Catrell and junior Cloe Lacasse, currently lead the team in shots attempted on the season.

Catrell, who scored seven goals in 2012, has attempted seven shots, with four on goal. She has one goal on the season.

Lacasse also has seven shots and four shots on goal. She scored 13 goals last season.

LACASSE HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
In two-plus 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 (159).

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.

B1G IN THE POLLS
In the most recent NSCAA Coaches Poll, three Big Ten teams are in the Top 25.

Penn State (1-0-1) fell to No. 9 from its previous spot at No. 4. Michigan (2-0-0) moved up to No. 14, while Ohio State fell one spot to No. 24.

Wisconsin and Illinois received votes.