It’s been three weeks since Iowa soccer celebrated its last goal, but the Hawkeyes are confident that they can end that streak today as they take on Michigan in Ann Arbor at 6:30 p.m.
After their third shutout in as many games, team captain Karly Stuenkel called this weekend “super important” and said her team needed “a sharp week in practice.”
At the conclusion of Wednesday’s practice, Stuenkel was pleased with the way the Hawkeyes performed.
“I think so far, we’ve been really good; our shooting has been really good,” Stuenkel said. “When we’re playing against each other, both teams are able to control the ball better. So I think we’ve been really sharp so far.”
The Hawkeyes hope their sharp practice this week will travel north with them. After the contest with Michigan, Iowa will travel to East Lansing to take on the Spartans on Oct. 1 at 11 a.m.
Even though both games this weekend will take place outside of the Hawkeye State, Iowa could feel right at home. For five Hawkeyes, Michigan is home.
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“I’m really excited,” Natalie Winters, a Plymouth, Michigan, native said. “A lot of my friends actually go to Michigan State, so I’m hoping I’ll get a lot of friends there, because they only got to see me play in high school.”
Head coach Dave DiIanni also has ties to Michigan — prior to being named coach of the Hawkeyes, he spent 11 years at Grand Valley State, claiming three Division 2 national titles.
For most of the Hawkeyes, the bus ride to Michigan is just another road trip, but Iowa is embracing the travel.
“We’re actually excited to get on the road and play a little bit away from home,” DiIanni said. “It’s a good opportunity to kind of grow as a team. Both teams are very different; I think it’s important we keep pushing. We’re disappointed with the weekend, but we love who we are, and it’s important that we stay positive and keep working, because there are a lot of games left to play.”
The Wolverines are primed to be the Hawkeyes’ toughest test on their trip north, as they boast a 5-2-4 record and have held nine of its 11 opponents to 1 goal or zero.
Michigan’s defensive success can be largely attributed to its goalie, Sarah Jackson, who leads the conference in saves per game with 6.4.
Iowa could see a parade of its shots hitting the back of the net in its second game this weekend against Michigan State, which has allowed a conference high 28 goals so far this season.
What the Spartans lack on defense, they try to make up for on offense, particularly with senior forward Jamie Cheslik, who DiIanni says is “fast enough and athletic enough to put you away.”