IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa women’s soccer team improved to 2-0 on Sunday night with a, 2-0, victory over Kansas City at the University of Iowa Soccer Complex.
Sunday’s contest was pushed back to a 7:30 p.m. (CT) start due to extreme heat, making for Iowa’s second consecutive victory following severe weather delays.
Faced with nothing but time, what has given the Hawkeyes the edge?
“The dance parties in the locker room” says junior Elle Otto. “We lift each other up by being positive. We just try to come out there on the front foot.”
Otto kept the energy flowing into the first half. The Hawkeyes started hot, converting twice in the opening period. The first goal came in the 20th minute of play when Otto found seventh-year player Josie Durr in the box. Durr fired a liner off the left post that bounced back through the net for the score.
Otto was back in the mix four minutes later, flying a transition pass from junior Kenzie Roling up and over the Kansas City goalkeeper for the second Hawkeye goal of the evening.
“Kenzie Roling dribbled the ball down the line, trusted me, and I busted my butt all the way to get the ball,” says Otto.
A smothering defensive effort carried Iowa the rest of the way. The Hawkeyes allowed just three Kansas City shot attempts while creating 17 shots and 11 shots on goal of their own. Goalkeeper Macy Enneking answered when called upon, hauling in a pair of saves on Sunday.