MADISON, Wis. – The University of Iowa soccer team played Wisconsin to a 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon to conclude the regular season. Iowa is now 11-5-2 on the year and 5-4-1 in conference play as they await seeding information for the Big Ten Tournament; the team tied for fourth in the Big Ten regular season standings, the program’s highest regular season finish since 1999 when the Hawkeyes placed third.
Iowa struck first when junior Samantha Cary lofted a deep pass to fifth-year senior Alyssa Walker in the sixth minute of action. Walker drilled her eighth goal of the season to put the Hawkeyes up, 1-0.
Wisconsin equalized in the final minute of the first half with an Emma Jaskaniec score.
It was a defensive battle the rest of the way, as Hawkeye goalkeeper Macy Enneking grabbed six saves to help hold the Badgers scoreless the rest of the way, leading Iowa to its first draw of the conference season.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH DAVE DIIANNI
“I’m proud with the team’s performance today playing a difficult opponent and with the pressure of knowing we probably needed a positive result to qualify for the tournament. We didn’t generate as much offensively as I would have liked, but our commitment to defend as a team was excellent all game. Finishing tied for fourth is a respectable placing and we have an opportunity to extend our journey one more game, searching for the best version of this team.”
HAWKEYE NOTABLES
- Iowa recorded just one shot on goal (which was good for a score) and two total shots on the afternoon; the Hawkeye defense battled 18 Wisconsin shot attempts including seven on goal.
- Enneking’s six saves match her season high; the sophomore sat much of the year due to injury.
- Walker’s eight goals and 18 points lead the Hawkeyes offensively this season.
- 90 TRACKER: Sara Wheaton (17), Samantha Cary (12), Rielee Fetty (10), Riley Whitaker (five), Hailey Rydberg (four), Alyssa Walker, Meike Ingles, and Maggie Johnston each played at least 90 minutes of Sunday’s match. Fourteen total Hawkeye position players have registered at least 90 minutes in a game so far this season. They include Addie Bundy (four), Olivia Hellweg (two), Miah Schueller, Aleisha Ganief, Courtny Powell, and Kenzie Roling.
UP NEXT
Information on schedules and seeding for the 2021 Big Ten Tournament will be announced later today.