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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa soccer team earned a crucial three points in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 1-0 shutout victory over Michigan State on Friday night at the Iowa Soccer Complex.
The win moves the Hawkeyes to 7-6-2 overall and 3-4-1 in Big Ten Play. Iowa remains undefeated at home in 2018 with a record of 6-0-2.
Iowa came out early with pressure to challenge Spartan goalkeeper Reilley Ott, taking four shots in the first 10 minutes of action. Ott kept the game scoreless after stopping junior Devin Burns’ shot in the 10th minute. Back-to-back shots from redshirt junior Kaleigh Haus and Devin Burns in the 26th minute were blocked by the Michigan State defense.
With less than 10 minutes left in the first half, redshirt senior Rose Ripslinger put a shot on goal, but Ott came up with the save, sending the game into the half scoreless.
In the 64th minute, freshman Hailey Rydberg gave Iowa the lead when she found the bottom right 90 for the game-winning goal off an assist from junior Natalie Winters. It was Rydberg’s second goal of the season and first career game-winning strike.
Graves made a save just three minutes later to hold Iowa’s lead. Redshirt freshman Josie Durr had a chance to extend the Hawkeyes’ lead in the 69th minute, but Ott made the stop.
OF NOTE
- Iowa dominated offensively, out-shooting the Spartans, 19-6.
- Graves’ victory is her sixth this season and the 23rdof her career, tying her for third in program history in career victories.
- The shutout was Graves’ fifth this season and the 16th of her career, moving her to second in program history for career shutouts. She made three saves in the game, moving her to fifth in program history with 187 career saves.
QUOTING HEAD COACH DAVE DIIANNI
“One of our biggest goals was to create a winning streak. This was critical for us; we could not lose this game. Not only is this three points, that we can stay ahead of Michigan State and some other teams, but it puts us into a good momentum streak going into Michigan. This gets us in the middle of the pack. Michigan State is a really dangerous team.”
“The pressure on the ball was very good. They are a great counter team. I thought Morgan (Kemerling) and Sara (Wheaton) did a great job with that. Isabella (Blackman), Josie (Durr), Natalie, and Hailey did a good job of slowing down transition through the middle and not allowing long balls to get hit in.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes host Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT) at the Iowa Soccer Complex for the pink match. Admission is free.
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