Oct. 22, 2013
- Read the October issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- 2013 Iowa Soccer Media Guide
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
THE MATCH-UP
The University of Iowa soccer team begins its final homestand of the season, hosting Big Ten opponents No. 16 Penn State on Friday at 7 p.m. (CT) and Ohio State on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches will take place at the Iowa Soccer Complex.
SUNDAY SENIOR DAY
Help send off the Hawkeye seniors on Sunday, as Ashley Catrell and Alex Melin play their second-to-last game at the Iowa Soccer Complex. The duo will be honored prior to the start of the contest.
PROMOTIONS
Friday night’s match versus Penn State has been designated AYSO Region 1103 Night. The first 100 fans in the gates will receive a free soccer hat. Sunday is Halloween Day at the Soccer Complex, and candy bags will be given to all kids in attendance. Free face painting will be available, and the Hawkeyes will sign autographs after the conclusion of the match.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
The No. 16 Nittany Lions hold a 12-3-1 overall record with a 6-2-0 record in Big Ten Conference play. Penn State has scored 48 goals on the season, which is the most by any team in the Big Ten. Senior Maya Hayes leads the Nittany Lions in goals with 16, which is tied for fourth-most in the NCAA. Hayes has four game-winning goals and a team-leading 37 points. Sophomore Britt Eckerstrom has started all 16 games in goal, making 63 saves on the season with a goals against average of 1.41. Eckerstrom has allowed 22 goals on the season, while posting one shutout. Erica Walsh is in her seventh year as Penn State’s head coach.
PENN STATE VS. IOWA — THE SERIES
Penn State has won all 17 matches played between the two teams. Last year, the Nittany Lions defeated the Hawkeyes at the Iowa Soccer Complex, 2-1, and eliminated Iowa from postseason play in the Big Ten Tournament in Bloomington, Ind., by a score of 2-0.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State holds a 9-4-3 overall record with a 3-3-2 record in Big Ten Conference play. Freshman Nichelle Prince leads the Buckeyes with 11 goals on the season. Prince, who has been named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week the past two weeks, leads the conference in game-winning goals (5). Senior Rachel Middleman and sophomore Jillian McVicker have both spent time in goal for the Buckeyes, and have combined for a 0.89 goals against average. Middleman has allowed four goals on the season, while McVicker has allowed 11. Lori Walker is in her 17th season as Ohio State’s head coach.
OHIO STATE-IOWA — THE SERIES
Ohio State leads the all-time series between the two teams, 9-5-1. Last year’s meeting yielded a 4-1 victory for the Buckeyes.
LAST GAME
The Hawkeyes fell to Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., on Sunday, 2-1. Freshman Bri Toelle scored her third goal of the season, via an assist from Anne Marie Thomas.
10+ Iowa has reached double digits in victories in each of the past three seasons, the first time the program has accomplished the feat in school history. The Hawkeyes’ 11 wins are tied for the fourth-most in a single season in school history. Iowa won a school-record 13 games in the 1999 and 2011 seasons and 12 in 2012.
CAREER HIGHS FOR PICKERT
Junior Melanie Pickert has already set career highs in goals (4) and points (12) this season, while attempting a career high 35 shots. The Canton, Mich., native has scored two game-winning goals this season, the first two of her career. Pickert has been a key component of an Iowa defense that is tied for most shutouts in the Big Ten with seven.
QUICK STARTS
Iowa has scored the game’s first goal in 12-of-16 matches this season. The Hawkeyes are undefeated (11-0-1) when notching the game’ s first goal and 6-1-0 when netting the first goal in the first half.
CATRELL THRIVING
Senior Ashley Catrell is making the most of her final season as a Hawkeye, leading Iowa in multiple categories. The Overland Park, Kan., native leads Iowa with 58 shots, and is tied with juniors Melanie Pickert and Anne Marie Thomas, and senior Alex Melin for a team-high in goals with four. Her two game-winning goals are tied for the team lead, and she holds the second-highest assist total (4).
IOWA TIED FOR 7TH IN GREAT LAKES REGION
The Hawkeyes are tied for seventh in the NSCAA/Continental Tire Great Lakes Region rankings that were released Oct. 22. Big Ten teams take up eight of the 10 spots in the poll; Michigan (1), Penn State (3), Nebraska (4), Wisconsin (5), Ohio State (6), Indiana (7), and Minnesota (8)
NONCONFERENCE DOMINANCE
The Hawkeyes have been dominant in non-league competition dating back to the 2011 season. The Hawkeyes have compiled a 25-0 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 out scored their nonconference opponents, 81-12.
CLARK IN B1G
Sophomore Hannah Clark ranks among the top-five in the Big Ten in three different statistical categories. The Colorado native’s seven shutouts and 0.44 shutouts per game are tops among the league’s 12 goalkeepers, and her 0.91 goals against average ranks second.
BALANCED SCORING
Eight different Iowa players have scored at least one goal thus far in 2013. Seniors Ashley Catrell and Alex Melin, along with juniors Melanie Pickert and Anne Marie Thomas lead the team with four. Junior Cloe Lacasse has a team-best six assists, which ties her for eighth-best in the Big Ten.
OUTSHOOTING, OUT SCORING
In 16 games, Iowa has out-shot its opponents, 268-163. The Hawkeyes have limited the opposition to 66 shots on goal and a .092 shot percentage. Offensively, Iowa has a 26-15 advantage in goals.
BREAKING RECORDS, BEATING RIVALS
The Hawkeyes continued their dominance over Iowa State on Sept. 6, beating the Cyclones 3-0 in front of a record crowd of 1,594 at the Iowa Soccer Complex. The crowd bested the previous high mark of 975 fans set in the 2011 season. The win was the sixth-straight for Iowa in the series. In those six games, Iowa has out scored the Cyclones 19-4.
CLARK EARNS B1G HONOR
Sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Clark was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 3 after posting consecutive shutouts and leading the Hawkeyes to the team title at the Pacific Soccer Classic. The Fort Collins, Colo., native made six saves on the weekend and had a 0.00 goals against average and a 1.000 saves percentage. The honor is the second of Clark’s career.
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 second in career goals (28) and game-winning goals (8), and third in points (75) and shots (205). 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.
HAWKEYES TAKE TOURNEY TITLE
After defeating UC Davis on Aug. 30 and Pacific on Sept. 1, the Hawkeyes captured the Pacific Soccer Classic team title. Senior Alex Melin, juniors Melanie Pickert, Caitlin Brown, Cloe Lacasse, and sophomore Hannah Clark were named to the all-tournament team.
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 was broadcast live on BTN. The Hawkeyes fell to the Wolverines, 2-1. The Big Ten Digital Network broadcast Iowa’s games against Northern Iowa (Sept. 17), Michigan State (Oct. 6), and will broadcast the Hawkeyes’ home contest versus Ohio State (Oct. 27). The BTN will also be televising the Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 6-10.
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 76-64-18 record, which includes 36 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.
B1G IN THE POLLS
In the most recent NSCAA Coaches Poll, three Big Ten teams are ranked in the Top 25. Michigan (9-2-1) advanced two spots to No. 10 while Penn State (10-2-1) moved to No. 16. Nebraska (9-3-1) climbed one spot to No. 21. Wisconsin received votes.
IRON WOMEN
Juniors Caitlin Brown and Emily Scott are the only two position players to play every minute for the Hawkeyes in 2013, logging 1,455 minutes apiece. Goalkeeper Hannah Clark, who has also played every minute of the season, has thrived with Brown and Scott leading a defense that allows only 10.2 shots per game.