By the Numbers: Looking back at Iowa soccer’s strong start to the season

Iowa soccer has jumped out to a commanding start to the 2019 season and boast the numbers to prove it.

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Megan Nagorzanski

Iowa forward Devin Burns goes for the ball during Iowa’s match against Illinois State on Sunday, September 1, 2019. The Hawkeyes defeated the Red Birds 4-3.

Isaac Goffin, Sports Reporter

 

The Iowa soccer team has gotten out to a great start to its season. So far, the Hawkeyes are 9-1, only losing their first game this past Sunday after a 9-0 start to the season. 

Many players on the team have contributed this season to its success through the first 10 games of the season, which has seen victories over a ranked North Carolina State team and in-state rival Iowa State.  

So, before the Hawkeyes continue Big Ten play on Thursday at home against the Fighting Illini, it’s worth looking back on some numbers that have been key for Iowa this season.

13 – Players that have scored 

In the 2018 season, only eight players scored for the Hawkeyes. 

Only 10 games into the 2019 season, 13 players have scored for the Hawkeyes for a total of 27 goals. Three seniors ‚— defender and captain Hannah Drkulec, forward Devin Burns, and midfielder and defender Natalie Winters — lead the way for the team with 4 goals. 

Though the team has the greatest number of seniors in the nation with 12, seven underclassmen have scored at least one goal. That list includes freshmen Gianna Gourley and Samantha Cary, as well as sophomores Samantha Tawharu, Jenny Cape, Sara Wheaton, Skylar Alward, and Josie Durr. 

4 – Road victories

Last season, Iowa won only one game on the road.

Already in the 2019 season, the Hawkeyes have won four games on the road, though these have not been the easiest of wins. 

Their first road game was against then-No. 14 North Carolina State. They won that game 1-0 thanks to a goal by Tawharu in the 38th minute. 

Another tough road test occurred on Sept. 15 against Notre Dame, who was 6-1 at the time of the match. The Hawkeyes fell behind early in the game, but were quickly able to recover with Drkulec and Durr scoring goals within 34 seconds of each other. The Hawkeyes won the game, 3-2. 

The Hawkeyes also won their first Big Ten game on the road this season against the Hoosiers 2-0. Winters scored off a penalty kick, and Tawharu added another goal in the 2nd half to help the Hawkeyes win. 

RELATED: Iowa soccer relies on team depth for success

5 – Shutouts 

Senior goalkeeper Claire Graves has posted 5 shutouts this season, coming against Western Michigan, North Carolina State, North Carolina – Greensboro, Northern Colorado, and Indiana. 

Graves has played her way into the record books at Iowa with 22 shutouts, which is four behind Iowa’s all-time leader in shutouts Hannah Clark. She is also third in career wins with 33, which is three behind Clark’s record. Finally, she has 210 saves in her career, which is fourth all-time in program history. 

121 – Fouls 

The Hawkeyes have been an aggressive team this season, as they have averaged over 12 fouls a game for a total of 121 fouls. This number is far greater than their opponents, who have had 72 total while playing against them. 

The Hawkeyes have also gotten their fair share of yellow cards this season with eight. Again, their opponents have totaled far fewer of these as well, with only one yellow card being enforced on Iowa’s opposition. Cary and Durr lead the team in yellow cards with two each. No one on the team has yet to receive a red card.