Oct. 17, 2014
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Sophomore Natalie Krygier’s 30th-minute goal propelled the University of Iowa women’s soccer team to a 1-0 shutout victory over Indiana on Friday night at the Iowa Soccer Complex. The win moves Iowa’s win total to 10 games for the fourth-consecutive season, extending the longest stretch in program history.
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“We played well for 90 minutes tonight, and that’s two games in a row for us,” said UI head coach Dave DiIanni. “I’ve never really had a team play well on senior night because there is so much emotion, but I thought our girls did a good job handling that and I’m very proud of them. We needed these three points.”
Midway through the first half, senior Cloe Lacasse drove toward the Indiana goal weaving in-and-out of defenders before firing a shot that bounced off the crossbar, finding Krygier who booted it in past Indiana goalkeeper Sarah Stone, scoring what would be the eventual game winner. The goal was Krygier’s second of the season and first game-winning goal of her career.
The Hawkeyes had numerous offensive chances on the night, posting 18 shots to Indiana’s seven. Iowa had three shots bounce off the crossbar. The Hawkeyes also recorded 13 corner kicks, marking the most in a single game this season. The Hawkeyes had nine in their season opener at Northern Iowa on Aug. 22.
“We created a lot of chances tonight, but were a little unlucky, said DiIanni. “Their goalkeeper had a couple good saves and a couple of our shots hit the crossbar. We weren’t getting the looks that we normally do off corners, but we created a lot of chances.”
Indiana tried, but could not break the Iowa defense anchored by seniors Caitlin Brown, Melanie Pickert, Nicole Urban and junior Hannah Clark. Clark tallied two saves on her way to her seventh shutout of the season, extending her career total and the program’s all-time best total to 18.
Standing at 10-4-1 overall and 5-3-1 in conference play, the Hawkeyes return to the UI Soccer Complex on Sunday for its final home game of the season when they take on Purdue at 1 p.m. (CT). Sunday’s contest is fan appreciation day. Fans can register to win a team-autographed Iowa soccer ball.
