Box Score Records
Upper Iowa (12-3, 10-2 NSIC) || Augustana (8-6-1, 6-5-1 NSIC)
Recap
On senior day, as the Upper Iowa Women's Soccer team took on the Vikings of Augustana College, UIU received a spark from an unexpected source.
Nicole Poirier has been a behind-the-scenes difference maker for the Peacocks this year by creating multiple scoring opportunities. On Saturday, her hard work showed up on the score sheet.
In the 28th minute of the first half, Poirier got on the end of a
Kali Loescher cross and found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal in her young career. Her goal gave UIU a 1-0 lead and the Peacocks never looked back earning the victory at home thanks to a shutout from the defense.
The victory gives the Peacocks a four-match win streak and an overall record of 12-3 including 10-2 in the NSIC. The loss drops Augustana to 8-6-1 overall and 6-5-1 in conference play.
After the game Head Coach
Brian Diaz called it a gritty win for his squad. From the get-go the teams were battling for position and feeling each other out. It was a back and forth game until Poirier and the Peacock offense heated up.
Despite being outshot 6-5 in the first 45 minutes, the Peacocks struck first blood.
Aimee Wronski created the scoring play with a nice go-ahead pass to Loescher who drove to the right side of the goalkeeper box before sending in her cross. Poirier finished it with a strong right foot from eight yards out. For Loescher, it was her second assist of the season.
The UIU defense did the rest.
In goal,
Kaitlyn Emanuel earned her fifth shutout of the season and added three saves to her stat line. Overall, the Peacocks held Augie to just eight shots, only two of which came in the second half.
The 1-0 victory gives the Peacocks the momentum heading into tomorrow's matchup with Wayne State College.
Saturday's win also held special significance for the seven seniors on the team. As a class, Briel Kohl, Kaisha McCaffrey, Amanda Millard, Brooke Skaggs, Amanda Smith, Kelsey Taldone and Corinne Wronski have combined for 292 games played, 5,334 minutes in goal, 15 goals, 20 assists, 280 saves, six game-winning goals and 453 shots. The 2010 recruiting class also leaves UIU with the most wins for any class in UIU history totaling a 45-20-9 record over the past four years.
Stat of the Game
With Poirier's goal on Saturday, the Peacocks have 33 total goals this season. That leaves them just three shy of matching last year's total. The school record for most goals in a season in Division II play is 40 by both the 2007 and 2009 teams.
Sounding Off
Head Coach Brian Daiz after the match…
On the Win… "It was a great win against a good Augustana team – I thought it was truly a blue-collar type of performance. Augie played very well and they caused some problems for us. but we were able to keep them out of the net and I thought Poirier's goal was one of the prettier goals we've had this season. It was great for Cole to get her first career goal – she definitely deserved it today."
On Nicole Poirier's Performance… "She's played really well, especially as of late. She does a lot of the dirty work in the midfield – the stuff that doesn't always show up on a stat sheet – but she's really worked hard and she deserved a performance like this today."
Who Else Stepped Up… "I thought
Kali Loescher had a great game – she really went at them hard and created a lot of problems for them. I thought our back line did a tremendous job, especially our center backs – they held strong and kept the shutout intact. Augie threw everything they could at us and we were able to keep them at bay."
What Are You Expecting For Tomorrow… "I want our team to carry that work-rate over into our match against Wayne State. I've seen it from the ladies all year, but we have to bring it every day. Wayne State is a tough opponent, so we'll have to be ready."
Up Next
The Peacocks will stay in Fayette for Sunday's matchup with the Wildcats of Wayne State College. That match kicks off on Pattison Field at 1 p.m.
