BUIES CREEK, N.C. — The University of Iowa soccer team shut out Big South champion Campbell, 1-0, on Tuesday afternoon at the Eakes Sports Complex to notch its first NCAA Tournament win in program history.
The Hawkeyes advance to the Round of 32 where they will face third-seeded UCLA on Friday at 2 p.m. (CT).
Junior Sara Wheaton nailed her second goal of the season off a corner kick from Samantha Cary in the fourth minute of action to put Iowa up, 1-0.
“All of the runs in front of me did their job and took the space near posts and I had an open shot so I just took a touch, and hit it,” says Wheaton. “We’ve been working on set pieces a lot the past couple months and we haven’t gotten the ball off the set piece, yet, so that’s something that was critical for us.”
Check out that NCAA Championship First Round winner! pic.twitter.com/8gbE51yGGO
— Hawkeye Soccer (@HawkeyeSoccer) April 28, 2021
From there, the Hawkeye defense pitched its fourth consecutive shutout and seventh on the year to secure the win. Aggressive offense aided that defensive effort, as Iowa dominated time of possession and put up 12 shots to the Camels’ eight on the afternoon.
Goalkeeper Macy Enneking came up with three big saves, bringing her season total to 48 saves through nine games. The freshman has allowed just three goals through 866 minutes of play this season, including just one this postseason.
The Hawkeyes are on a true Cinderella run, winning five postseason games in a row after finishing the regular season 2-8-1. The Iowa offense has emerged late, scoring seven of nine total goals this season in postseason play en route to the program’s first Big Ten Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament victory.
Head Coach Dave DiIanni and the postgame huddle for the victorious Iowa Hawkeyes. pic.twitter.com/gJQtUcyWPz
— Hawkeye Soccer (@HawkeyeSoccer) April 28, 2021
“Last weekend being the first team to win a Big Ten Championship, and then now being the first team to win an NCAA game, it feels unreal,” said Wheaton. “I’m so proud of the whole team for everything that we’ve accomplished and the records that we’re going to have forever.”
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH DAVE DIIANI…
“We talked a lot about two weekends in a row trying to make history in our program. We just talked about creating a foundation for others who are going to wear this jersey, and an expectation and a standard of what is expected of them at the University of Iowa and specifically in the soccer program. Just a shoutout to those that played at the University of Iowa and wore this jersey. We know they’re really proud and we’re working really hard.”
OF NOTE
- Campbell entered Tuesday’s contest with the nation’s third best shots per game average (19) and eighth best SOG average (8.67); Iowa outshot the Camels in both categories (5/12).
- Iowa’s three subs—Gianna Gourley, Olivia Hellweg, and Natalie Mass—combined for 73 minutes as DiIanni rode the starters for most of the afternoon.
- 90 TRACKER: Six Hawkeye position players played the duration of Tuesday’s game. They are: Sara Wheaton (13), Rielee Fetty (12), Diane Senkowski (10), Samantha Cary (9), Hailey Rydberg (6), and Josie Durr (5).
NEXT UP
Iowa will face third-seeded UCLA in the second round on April 30 in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CT).
