Hawkeyes Set to Host South Dakota State in NCAA Tournament

THIS WEEK
The No. 5-seeded University of Iowa women’s soccer team hosts South Dakota State in the NCAA Tournament First Round on Friday, Nov. 14, at 5 p.m. (CT) at the Iowa Soccer Complex.

WATCH/FOLLOW LIVE
- The match will stream live on ESPN+ (subscription required).
- Tickets are required and can be purchased through the women’s soccer schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.
- Links to the live stream and live stats are available on the gameday page at hawkeyesports.com.
- Follow @HawkeyeSoccer on X for live, in-game updates.

SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
- South Dakota State earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning its third consecutive Summit League Tournament title, the ninth in program history (most in league history).
- This marks the Jackrabbits’ ninth NCAA Tournament appearance, including three straight.
- SDSU has faced Big Ten opponents in each of the past two NCAA Tournaments, falling to Minnesota (2-0) in 2024 and Nebraska (5-2) in 2023.
- The Jackrabbits knocked off the top two seeds in this year’s conference tournament en route to the title.
- Offensively, Jenna Maloy and Emma Brezenski lead the team with six goals apiece.
- Mia Bosch leads the team with 15 points (3 goals, 9 assists); her nine assists rank 21st nationally and first in the Summit League.
- Goalkeeper Mallorie Benhart has started 19 games, allowing just 13 goals (0.69 GAA) with 76 saves and a .854 save percentage (17th nationally, 1st in the conference). She owns nine shutouts this season.
- Defensively, SDSU allows just 0.67 goals per game and has surrendered more than one goal only three times in 2025.
- The Jackrabbits enter Friday’s match on a four-game winning streak, including three straight shutouts.
- SDSU is 1-1 against teams in this year’s NCAA field, falling to No. 3 seed Kansas (1-0) and defeating California Baptist (1-0).
- SDSU has outscored opponents 43-14 this season; its +29 goal differential ranks 13th nationally.
- The team’s 48 assists on 43 goals rank ninth nationally.

SERIES HISTORY
Friday’s contest marks the fourth all-time meeting between Iowa and South Dakota State. The Hawkeyes lead the series 2-1-0. In the most recent meeting, Iowa defeated SDSU, 2-0, on Aug. 30, 2009. The Hawkeyes earned a 3-2 win in the first meeting on Sept. 23, 2007, in Brookings, South Dakota.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Sofia Bush, Millie Greer, and Liana Tarasco were named Big Ten Players to Watch; Iowa was picked sixth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. Bush was also tabbed a Top Drawer Soccer Midfielder to Watch.
- Iowa’s roster features eight graduate students and three seniors.
- Meike Ingles (lower leg), Eva Pattison (redshirt), and Abby Warner (redshirt) will miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
- Iowa’s No. 13 preseason ranking was the highest in program history and just the second preseason ranking ever.
- The Hawkeyes’ No. 5 ranking this season is also a program best.
- Iowa graduated its all-time winningest goalkeeper, Macy Enneking, who started each of the past three seasons.
- Kenzie Roling, Greer, and Bush were voted team captains.

THE DIIANNI FILE
Head coach Dave DiIanni signed a contract extension on Feb. 27, 2025, that extend the program’s all-time winningest coach through 2029
- DiIanni is 3-2 at Iowa against opponents ranked No. 6 or higher; prior to his arrival, the program was 0-7 in those contests.
- Entering 2025, DiIanni ranked as the second active winningest Division I coach by percentage (.753), trailing only Stanford’s Paul Ratcliffe (.784).
- He entered the season with the 19th most wins among active Division I coaches and ranks sixth all-time by win percentage.
- DiIanni has won all four NCAA Tournament matches in Iowa program history.

PRO FACTORY
Five members of Iowa’s 2024 senior class signed professional contracts:
- Macy Enneking – Fimleikafelag Hafnarfjardar (Iceland)
- Rielee Fetty – Rio Ave FC (Portugal)
- Maya Hansen – Fimleikafelag Hafnarfjardar (Iceland)
- Maggie Johnston – Spokane Zephyr FC (USA)
- Madison Wilson – Calgary Wild FC (Canada)

HAWKEYE FAITHFUL
- Iowa’s average home attendance of 2,076 ranks fifth nationally and first in the Big Ten. That mark set a new program record, breaking last season’s average of 1,479.
- In 2013, the year prior to DiIanni’s arrival, Iowa averaged just 522 fans per game.
- The TCU match earlier this season drew a program-record regular season crowd of 2,382 fans.

QUICK HITTERS
- Graduate student Price Loposer has played 97 career games, tied for third-most among active NCAA players.
- Goalkeeper Taylor Kane owns an 18-4 career record as a starter.
- Bush’s six assists rank fifth in the Big Ten.
- Iowa’s 26 wins over the last two seasons are its most since 2014–15 (29).
- The Hawkeyes tied for third in the Big Ten, which ties for the best finish in program history.
- Iowa ranks top three in the Big Ten in: goal differential (+14), points per game (5.42), scoring offense (1.84), shots per game (15.32), shots on goal per game (6.84), total goals (35), and total points (103).

2 FOR THE MONEY
- Iowa is 64-3-4 in its last 71 matches when scoring two or more goals dating back to October 2017.
- The Hawkeyes are 9-1-1 this season when scoring at least twice.

MIDSEASON TOP 100
Four Hawkeyes were selected to Top Drawer Soccer’s Midseason Top 100 list.
- Millie Greer was tabbed as 50th overall on the top overall player’s list.
- Three Hawkeyes were mentioned in the Top 100 Freshman list. Josie Jones (33rd), Liana Tarasco (37th), and Elle Wildman (55th).
- Jones was the ninth highest rated freshman in the Big Ten.

ALL-BIG TEN
Four Hawkeyes earned All-Big Ten postseason recognition.
- Bush and Greer both were named to the second team. Bush had earned third team honors in 2024 while
- Greer was also named second team in 2024.
- Tarasco and Wildman were named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
- Kane was named Iowa’s Sportsmanship Award honoree.

DANCING AGAIN
The Hawkeyes are making their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance — a program record.
- Friday’s match marks the third straight year Iowa has hosted an NCAA Tournament contest.
- Iowa defeated Bucknell (2-0) in 2023 before a record crowd of 2,639 and topped Missouri State (2-1) in 2024 with 2,267 fans. This marks Iowa’s sixth NCAA Tournament appearance overall.
- The Hawkeyes advanced to their first-ever Sweet 16 in 2024.
- DiIanni owns a 4-5 record in NCAA Tournament play at Iowa.
- The Hawkeyes have faced seven tournament teams this season, going 3-4-1 (including two matches vs. Wisconsin).

2024 BREAKTHROUGHS
- At 15-3-4 the Hawkeyes tied the program record for most victories in a season. Iowa won 15 games in
2013 and 2019.
- Iowa advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history a season ago.
- Marked 13 consecutive games without a loss.
- 12 shutouts marked the second most in program history.

SINCE 2019, IOWA...
- Won a pair of Big Ten Tournament Championships in 2021 and 2023
- Won all four NCAA Tournament matches in program history
- Made five out of the six NCAA Tournament appearances in program history
- Advanced to their first Sweet Sixteen in program history
- Has earned 12 postseason wins
- Has posted 62 shutouts
- Defeated 12 ranked opponents, nine top 15 opponents and two top five opponents
- Saw Coach DiIanni surpass 300 career wins and become the winningest coach in program history
- Set a new home attendance record (2,629); the overtime win over Bucknell in 2023 was the first NCAA Tournament game hosted at the Iowa Soccer Complex
- Set a home average attendance record (2,076); in the 2025 season. Iowa’s attendance ranks 5th nationally and first amongst Big Ten teams.

UP NEXT
With a win, Iowa would advance to face the winner of No. 4 seed LSU and Houston Christian in the NCAA Tournament Second Round on Nov. 20 (location TBD).