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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Senior Emma Tokuyama’s goal in the 77th minute lifted the University of Iowa soccer team to a 4-3 victory over Illinois State on Sunday afternoon at the Iowa Soccer Complex. The Hawkeyes are 4-0 for the first time since 2015.
Iowa led 2-0 in the first half and 3-2 at the half before Illinois State’s Kate Del Fava notched a hat trick to tie the game at the 69:31 mark. Tokuyama received a pass from freshman Gianna Gourley seven minutes later and fired a shot past Haley Smith for the game-winner.
The strike was Tokuyama’s first career goal.
The Hawkeyes jumped on Illinois State, scoring the first goal just 47 seconds into the contest on a header from senior Kaleigh Haus. It was Haus’ second goal of the season, and 12th of her career.
Senior Devin Burns doubled Iowa’s lead in the 14th minute with an unassisted strike before Del Fava scored in the 22nd minute — on Illinois State’s first shot of the game — to cut the deficit to 2-1.
After a beautiful cross from freshman Melina Hegelheimer, Gourley found the back of the net in the 27th minute to swing the momentum back in favor of the Hawkeyes. It was Gourley’s second goal of career. Tokuyama was also credited with an assist.
Moments before halftime, Del Fava struck again for her second goal, cutting Iowa’s lead to 3-2.
Illinois State evened the game in the 70th minute when Del Fava received a pass from 35 yards out from Michaela Kirschten before sending it home for the hat trick. The goal came against redshirt freshman Monica Wilhelm, who played the final 45 minutes.
HEAD COACH DAVE DIIANNI SAYS…
“Attacking-wise, that was the best game we have had this year. What we worked on in training was evident from the beginning, but we left a few goals out there. We’re going to score goals, but defensively, we need to be better and difficult to play against.
“I am very excited about our start and the schedule just gets tougher.”
HAUS SAYS…
“We got in the middle of the huddle and Hannah Drkulec said we better score in the first 30 seconds, so that’s what we did. They did that to us last year, so it was a little bit of a payback.”
OF NOTE…
– The Hawkeyes are 4-0 for the first time since 2015.
– Iowa is unbeaten at home in its last 14 contests, posting an 11-0-3- record.
– Iowa out-shot Illinois State, 22-7, in the game and the Hawkeyes had 11 corner kicks to the Redbirds’ three.
– Wilhelm made one save en route to her first career win. The Antioch, Illinois, native played the second half in her first career appearance.
NEXT UP
The Hawkeyes head to North Carolina for their first road trip of the season, facing No. 17 North Carolina State on Thursday at 6 p.m. (CT) and UNC Greensboro on Sunday at noon (CT).
