Sept. 27, 2015
IOWA CITY, Iowa — A surge of first half goals propelled Penn State to a 5-1 victory over the University of Iowa soccer team Sunday afternoon at the Iowa Soccer Complex.
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“I think Penn State is a good team, and we looked a little overwhelmed today,” said UI head coach Dave DiIanni. “We were not successful in defending the box. We need to ask more of each other and be better in certain areas.
“I thought we created some opportunities, got on the ball and got a penalty kick. I told them I wanted them to play and not to be overwhelmed in the moment, and I think they were at times today.”
The Nittany Lions took an early 2-0 lead after a pair of goals from Frannie Crouse and Megan Schafer. Crouse’s goal came in the 17th minute off of a rebound. Schafer collected her goal after connecting a pass from teammate Raquel Rodriguez at the 21-minute mark.
The Hawkeyes got on the board when junior Bri Toelle fired a penalty kick past Penn State goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom in the 27th minute. The goal brings Toelle’s season total to five.
Penn State’s Nickolette Driesse managed to sneak one more goal past senior goalkeeper Hannah Clark at the 29-minute mark to send the Nittany Lions to a 3-1 lead at the half.
Penn State outshot Iowa, 8-3, in the second half, netting two more goals in the process. Both teams swapped out their goalies in the second half. Penn State put Rose Chandler in net, while freshman Emma Rigby saw action for the first time in her Hawkeye career.
Clark recorded eight saves in 68 minutes of action, while Rigby tallied a save in her 22 minutes.
“We are finding out more of what it takes to play in the Big Ten,” said DiIanni. “We need to be more consistent in our focus when it comes to games.”
The Hawkeyes travel to Bloomington, Indiana, on Oct. 3 to take on Indiana at Yeagley Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (CT).
