The Iowa women’s soccer team needed to bolster its attack with new talent after a disappointing 2022 season, and senior midfielder and La Salle transfer Kelli McGroarty has the potential to be the missing piece.
McGroarty’s offensive aggression helped her lead La Salle in goals, shots, and shots on target in the 2021 season — a much-needed addition to the Iowa offense that was goal-less in six games last season.
The Hawkeyes have already seen that aggression firsthand. McGroarty led Iowa in shots in its 1-0 win against Florida Gulf Coast on Aug. 17 and the Hawkeyes’ 2-0 win in the home opener against Kansas City on Aug. 20 with eight and four, respectively.
But McGroarty has made her impact felt not just with her play but also with her personality.
Iowa junior forward Kenzie Roling said McGroarty has brought great energy to the team and is always one of the first to celebrate a goal or assist with her teammates.
Senior goalkeeper and captain Macy Enneking said McGroarty has helped fill the hole that was left from the departure of senior Hailey Rydberg from the Iowa attack. Rydberg started 55 consecutive matches for the Hawkeyes as a middle infielder from 2020 to 2023.
“Kelli has been able to pick up that spot well,” Enneking said. “[She’s] getting into the box, putting her head on things, and getting those scrappy second balls.”
She hopes that her passing ability will also play a big role in helping unlock the Iowa attack for the season.
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The midfielder position — which McGroarty frequents — offers a lot of flexibility, possessing the ability to join the front line while also being comfortable dropping deeper and helping on the defensive side of the ball.
Although McGroarty has yet to get a goal or assist this season, she’s been part of an improved attack with junior forwards Kenzie Roling and Elle Otto.
McGroarty creates a lot of chances for the forwards and helps them stay on their front foot. She’s not shy about testing the opposing goalkeeper with a shot outside of the box, and she continues to learn and grow in head coach Dave DiIanni’s system.
A big goal for McGroarty this season is to make a name for herself in the Big Ten and become a respected player in the conference. She said she’s taking advantage of her fifth year and is prepared to help her team get as far as it can in the conference either this year or the next.
But McGroarty is still growing in some areas and was frustrated with her performance against Iowa State on Aug. 24th, despite the Hawkeyes winning, 2-1. But she was quick to add that she was excited for the team and loved the atmosphere of the game.
She will no doubt face an adjustment once the Big Ten schedule rolls around with the Hawkeyes’ opening play against Illinois, but the biggest thing for her is to build her confidence.
“I feel like I know what I’m doing,” McGroarty said. “But there are times with all the new stuff coming in where I have a little bit of confusion and not knowing if this is exactly what I’m supposed to do.”
The transfer from La Salle wasn’t just an on-field decision for McGroarty. She left a school that was just an hour away from her home, but she said that she’s always been an independent person. She said she misses her family, but the team and coaching staff have really made the transition easy for her.
“Overall, it’s been a very life-changing transfer in more ways that I could probably describe or explain,” McGroarty said.
