Hawkeyes Host No. 10 UCLA, USC

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s soccer team (7-4-5, 2-3-4 Big Ten) returns home to host No. 10 UCLA (10-3-2, 7-1-1 Big Ten) on Thursday at 7 p.m. (CT) and USC (2-8-5, 1-5-3 Big Ten) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Iowa Soccer Complex. Admission is free.

WATCH/FOLLOW LIVE
- Both matches will be streamed live on B1G+, a paid subscription service.

- Live statistics will be available on StatBroadcast and can be accessed at hawkeyesports.com.

- Fans can follow the Iowa soccer program on X (@HawkeyeSoccer) and Instagram (@HawkeyeSoccer) for live in-game updates.

SENIOR DAY
The University of Iowa women’s soccer team celebrates Senior Day on Sunday before their match against USC. Student-athletes Sofia Bush, Millie Greer, Reilly Heman, Sara Batchadji, Abby Skiff and Lucia Englund will be recognized during the pregame ceremony.

OF NOTE...
- Iowa has scored 33 goals through 16 matches, with 11 different Hawkeyes finding the back of the net.

- Twelve different Hawkeyes have recorded an assist this season.

- First-year goalkeeper Braelynn Galt has posted seven shutouts with 49 saves across her first 16 collegiate matches.

- Iowa has out-shot its opponents, 293-149, this season.

- Iowa wrapped up nonconference play with a 5-1-1 record for the second straight season.

- The Hawkeyes’ seven goals against Milwaukee set a program record for goals scored in a season opener.

- Iowa’s 12 goals through its first two matches were the most in the first two contests of a season in program history, surpassing the 10 goals scored to open the 1999 season.

- Twelve different Iowa position players have logged 90-minute games.

- Sara Batchadji’s four goals have all come off set pieces.

- Reilly Heman recorded her second brace of the season against Oregon, marking the first season with multiple braces by a Hawkeye since 2023.

- Iowa’s five draws are the most in a season since 2022.

- Berit Parten recorded her second brace of the season against Maryland, helping Iowa secure its sixth straight win over the Terrapins.

- Reilly Heman’s eight goals are the most by a Hawkeye since 2017.

- Parten and Heman have both recorded multiple braces this season, marking the first time since 2017 that multiple Hawkeyes recorded two or more braces in a season.

SCOUTING No. 10 UCLA
- No. 10 UCLA enters Thursday’s match with a 10-3-2 record and a 7-1-1 mark in Big Ten play. The Bruins are unbeaten in their last seven matches entering the contest.

- UCLA opened October with a 1-0 win over Oregon, followed by a 5-0 victory over Indiana and a 2-1 win over Illinois.

- Oruha Hayashi leads UCLA with six goals and 14 points, while Kara Croone also has six goals and leads the Bruins with three game-winning goals. Goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor has started in 10 matches, recording 32 saves on the season.

- The Bruins have allowed just three goals in conference play and rank first in the Big Ten with a 0.33 goals-against average. UCLA has also recorded eight shutouts this season.

- UCLA leads the all-time series, 3-0. The Bruins defeated Iowa, 3-0, in their most recent meeting on Oct. 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. Thursday’s match marks UCLA’s first visit to Iowa City. 

SCOUTING USC
- USC enters the match with a 2-8-5 overall record and a 1-5-3 mark in Big Ten play. The Trojans are coming off a 3-0 win over Northwestern on Oct. 17, earning their first conference victory of the season.

- The Trojans have scored 15 goals through 15 matches while allowing 24. USC has recorded two shutouts this season.

- Lily Biddulph leads USC with three goals, while Eleanor Morrissey leads the team with eight points on two goals and four assists. Goalkeeper Josie Biehl has posted 60 saves in 15 appearances.

- Iowa and USC played to a 2-2 draw in the first meeting on Oct. 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. The Hawkeyes scored twice in the second half to earn the draw. 

NEW HEIGHTS
- Reilly Heman’s eight goals and 16 points are a career high.

- Kylie Cino had one goal in her previous two seasons before netting three in 2026.

- Elle Wildman’s nine points this season mark a career high.

- Berit Parten’s team-leading 21 points mark a career high.

- Parten’s seven assists mark a career high.

- Lucia Englund’s three assists tie her carer high.

- Abby Skiff recorded her second assist of the season against Marylad, matching her career high.

ON THE LEADERBOARD
As a team, Iowa ranks...

- 11th nationally in shots per game (18.31) and sixth in shot attempts (293).

- 10th nationally in shots on goal per game (8.31) and sixth in total shots on goal (133).

- Third nationally with 124 corner kicks.

Individually...

- Braelynn Galt is tied for fourth in the Big Ten in shutouts (7).

- Berit Parten is tied for 23rd nationally and tied for fourth in the Big Ten in assists (7).

- Berit Parten is tied for fourth in the Big Ten in points (21).

- Reilly Heman’s eight goals are tied for third in the Big Ten.

PLAYING THE BEST
Iowa’s 2026 schedule features eight opponents that advanced to the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes will face Milwaukee, Wake Forest, Illinois, Penn State, Ohio State, Washington, UCLA and Wisconsin during the 2026 campaign.

PROTECT THE COMPLEX
Iowa holds a 14-1-5 record in its last 20 home games.

BRACE FOR IMPACT
The Hawkeyes have recorded five individual braces this season.

- Berit Parten and Berkley Binggeli scored two goals apiece in Iowa’s season-opening victory over Milwaukee.

- Reilly Heman recorded her first career brace against UNC Greensboro.

- Reilly Heman earned her second brace of the season against Oregon.

- Berit Parten tallied her second brace of the season against Maryland.

ON THE WORLD STAGE
Liana Tarasco, Iba Oching and Léa Larouche were selected to represent Canada at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. Canada advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating France, 3-1, in the Round of 16 before falling to Korea DPR, 2-0, in the quarterfinals.

NEW YEAR, NEW STAFF
The Iowa soccer program enters the 2026 campaign with a new coaching staff, led by head coach Dean Ward following two seasons at Xavier.

- Ward has nearly two decades of collegiate coaching experience and owns a 38-12-9 career record as a head coach at the Division I level.

- Assistant coach Kelly Altman joined the staff following three seasons at Florida. Altman completed his 19th season in coaching following the 2025 campaign, working at multiple levels, including NCAA Divisions I and III, high school and club soccer.

- Assistant coach Meghan Gill joined Iowa after three seasons as associate head coach at Richmond.

- Assistant coach Noah Smith joined Iowa following two seasons at Xavier, where he worked with the goalkeepers.

- Director of soccer operations Josie Durr returned to Iowa after playing for the Hawkeyes for six seasons from 2017-22.

LOOKING BACK AT 2025
- The Hawkeyes qualified for the Big Ten Tournament for the fourth consecutive season, marking their 16th appearance all-time.

- Iowa earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed. It marked the program’s third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, setting a program record. Iowa also hosted an opening-round contest for the third consecutive season.

- Iowa defeated South Dakota State, 1-0, in the first round to advance to the second round for a third consecutive season. The Hawkeyes were one of 11 programs to advance to the second round in each of the last three seasons, joining Florida State, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Arkansas, Michigan State, North Carolina, Texas Tech, Penn State, Georgetown and Stanford.

TURNING HEADS
- Elle Wildman, Sofia Bush and Millie Greer were named Big Ten Players to Watch for the 2026 season.

- Millie Greer, Iba Oching and Sofia Bush received 2026 United Soccer Coaches Women’s Players to Watch recognition.

- Bush and Greer were ranked 57th and 72nd, respectively, in TopDrawerSoccer’s Preseason Women’s National Top 100.

- Bush and Greer were selected to the 2026 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.

2 FOR THE MONEY
- Iowa is 70-3-5 in its last 78 matches when scoring two or more goals, dating to October 2017.

- The Hawkeyes are 6-0-1 this season when scoring at least twice.

SINCE 2019, IOWA HAS...
- Won two Big Ten Tournament championships, claiming titles in 2021 and 2023.

- Won five NCAA Tournament matches.

- Made five of the program’s six NCAA Tournament appearances.

- Advanced to the first Sweet 16 in program history.

- Earned 13 postseason wins.

- Posted 70 shutouts.

- Defeated 12 ranked opponents, nine top-15 opponents and two top-five opponents.

- Set a new home attendance record (2,639) in the overtime win over Bucknell in 2023, which was the first NCAA Tournament game hosted at the Iowa Soccer Complex.