Sept. 25, 2014
By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Shade Pratt’s goal in the 17th minute was the difference, as Maryland handed the 13th-ranked University of Iowa soccer team its first Big Ten loss by the score of 1-0 Thursday afternoon at the Iowa Soccer Complex.
“Today was a character builder for us,” said UI head coach Dave DiIanni. “I don’t think anybody thought we were going to go undefeated in the Big Ten, but we know we’re better than what we showed the first 25 minutes of game.”
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Pratt beat UI goalkeeper Hannah Clark with a strike into the upper right corner of the net at the 16:13 mark after Riley Barger sent a ball in from the left wing. The goal was the first allowed by Clark and the Hawkeyes in Big Ten action this season.
“I liked how we came out to start the game, but we gave them a lot of confidence,” said DiIanni. “On the goal, we let a service come in from the width, and we weren’t tight enough for the first 10-15 minutes, and it cost us. We had to chase the game after that.”
The tune of the game could have been different if Iowa was able to capitalize on three scoring opportunities in the first 15 minutes. Senior Cloe Lacasse had a pair of breakaway chances, but she couldn’t deliver, pushing both attempts wide left.
“Cloe will be the first to tell you that she needs to put those balls into the back of the net,” said DiIanni. “Up 1-0 or 2-0 is a lot different than going in down 1-0 into the second half.”
After scoring the early goal, the Terrapins made a defensive adjustment, rotating Pratt in a defensive role to mark Lacasse for the remainder of the contest.
The Hawkeyes had three solid chances in the final 10 minutes to net the equalizer. Senior Melanie Pickert’s header sailed high at the 79:52 mark, and Maryland goalkeeper Rachelle Beanlands made a save at the 83:40 mark on a Pickert shot following a flurry in front of the net. Beanlands made a second save with five minutes left on a header attempt by senior Anne Marie Thomas.
Beanlands made two saves in the contest to pick up her fourth shutout of the season. Clark made two saves in 90 minutes where she had her shutout streak end at 379:26.
Iowa out-shot Maryland, 10-6, in the contest, but only two of the attempts were on goal.
The Hawkeyes (8-2-0, 3-1-0) return to action Sunday, hosting No. 17/25 Rutgers at noon.
