The Iowa soccer team (7-9-3, 0-7-2) fought out a gritty 1-1 double-overtime draw with Michigan State (9-5-4, 3-3-3) on Sunday in East Lansing to end to its seven-match losing streak.

Iowa began the game in familiar fashion, falling behind in the 59th minute after a goal by Spartan junior Megan Pines. The Hawkeyes have only led in one game since Sept. 17.

The Black and Gold struck back in the 79th minute. Michigan State goalkeeper Elizabeth Watza bobbled a save, and Iowa sophomore Jade Grimm capitalized for her fourth goal of the year.

No one had a better game than Hawkeye goalkeeper Emily Moran. The junior recorded 14 saves, the second-best total in team history. Only Liz Hendel and Britta Vogele — arguably Iowa’s best goalies ever — have finished with more saves in a game.

Moran’s biggest stop came with 20 seconds left in regulation, when she got her fingertips on a rocket by Pines. The ball skidded just over the crossbar, and Moran picked up five more saves in the two overtime periods.

Head coach Ron Rainey said his team’s first positive result in over a month will help the Hawkeyes as they prepare for their final game of the year — Saturday against Purdue at the Iowa Soccer Complex.

“Even though it was a tie, I’m excited with how we responded to being a goal down on a long road trip,” Rainey said. “We showed a lot of character.”

— by Seth Roberts