The Upper Iowa University women's soccer team weathered the bad weather and overcame their first deficit of the season in a 2-1 win over the University of Minnesota Duluth on Pattison Field in Fayette. The Peacocks improve to 5-0 (3-0 NSIC) on the year while the Bulldogs fall to 0-6 (0-3 NSIC) on the season.
In a match marred by bad weather, the teams had to adjust to rainy and windy conditions that added an extra level of difficulty. The Peacocks applied the pressure early as they took the first two shots of the match and kept the ball on the UMD side, but the Bulldogs turned the momentum around after the first 10 minutes and took the lead on a goal at the 23:17 mark. The go-ahead ball was played into the box by the Bulldogs, and
Natalie Rudrud made an attempt to smother the ball by diving on it, but the rainy conditions saw the ball slip out and get put into the back of the net by UMD to take a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs finished the half with a 5-3 shot advantage that included a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal and also notched a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Looking to turn the tide in the second half,
Jordan Zarate took a shot just 54 seconds into the period before
Katie Samuels put a shot on goal at the 48:29 mark that had to be saved by UMD.
Alex Garcia registered a shot on goal in the 55th minute, and
Haley Ramberg had a good shot blocked in the 60th minute as UIU took the first four shots of the half. The Peacocks continued their attack and were able to convert on their fifth shot of the period at the 62:09 mark as
Toni Powsey put in a header off an assist from
Leah Willenbring on a corner kick that bounced around the box and found its way into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Minnesota Duluth forced Rudrud to make a save on a shot just 43 seconds later and drew a corner kick after their attempt, but the UIU defense held as the home team took the momentum. The Peacocks turned that momentum into an attack in the 67th minute that saw Samuels rip a shot from inside the box that was saved by UMD before
Katrina Kazluski cleaned up the rebound and put in the go-ahead goal off an assist from Samuels at the 66:25 mark.
The Bulldogs looked to apply the pressure and tie or take the lead before the end of the period, and their attack came close on multiple occasions late in the match. A dangerous run was broken up by an offside on UMD in the 83rd minute and Rudrud had to save a dangerous shot in the 85th minute, but the Peacock defense held on to stay undefeated and win the match by a score of 2-1.
PEACOCKS OF THE GAME...
- Toni Powsey's first goal of the season tied the match at one goal apiece and turned the momentum in UIU's favor. The senior defender played full time and put both of her shots in the match on goal.
- Katrina Kazluski's team-leading second goal of the season proved to be her second game-winning goal of the year. The freshman defender played full time and helped the UIU defense lock things down after taking the lead.
- Katie Samuels dished out her team-leading third assist of the season on Kazluski's game-winner. The forward led the match in shots (4) and shots on goal (3).
- Leah Willenbring contributed her second assist of the season on Powsey's tying score and played the whole 90 minutes for the UIU defense.
- Natalie Rudrud secured four saves on five shots on goal as she helped the Peacocks stay perfect at 6-0 (3-0 NSIC).
STATS OF THE GAME...
- The Bulldogs out-shot UIU 5-3 in the first half, but the Peacocks turned things around with an 8-3 shot advantage in the second period that included a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal.
- After allowing two corners and taking one in the first half, Upper Iowa flipped the script and took a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks in the second half.
- UIU looked to be more under control in the first half as they were whistled for just one foul compared to eight by UMD, with each team recording five in the second period.
UP NEXT... UIU will play wrap-up their four-game homestand on Pattison Field as they welcome St. Cloud State University to Fayette for a match on Sunday, Sep. 26 at 1 p.m.
