HISTORY: Iowa Soccer defeats Georgetown, earns the program's first ever Sweet Sixteen trip
The Iowa Soccer program has been on the rise for more than half a decade under head coach Dave Dilanni. They’ve accomplished a laundry list of program firsts, but one thing was still missing heading into Friday night. Advance to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
Check it off the list. The Hawkeyes have done it.
A 55th minute goal from Meike Ingles was enough to lift Iowa to a 1-0 win over Georgetown. On a team filled with veteran leaders, it was fitting to see Ingles net the winner. After missing two straight seasons, one due to injury and one due to the birth of her daughter, Meike returned this year and is tied for the team lead in goals scored with seven.
The expectation was a low scoring, grind it out match, with both sides ranking inside the top ten in goals allowed per game. That’s exactly what we got.
Although there wasn’t a ton of action in a first half dominated by the defenses, there was a bizarre stoppage in the 17th minute. Match official Adrian Gonzalez strangely stopped the match and then was seen talking on the phone on the sideline. Both coaches, Dave Dillani and Dave Nolan, had threatened to walk off the field, as the UCLA marching band loudly practiced in the open field adjacent to Wallis Annenberg Stadium causing communication issues.
After the situation was cleared up, the Hawkeyes and Hoyas played to a 0-0 tie going into the half. Both teams recorded three shots, but only one shot on goal. It had all the makings of a game that was going to end with a single goal deciding a winner.
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That single goal came in the 55th minute. Goalkeeper Macy Enneking took a free kick from the Iowa side of midfield and sent it skyward, all the way into the box. Georgetown keeper Anna Karpenko was able to get a glove on the ball, but collided with her teammate and was upended. Maya Hansen sent a header back out and Meike Ingles launched a one-time volley over everyone for the opening goal.
The Hoyas battled back with a near chance in the 70th minute. A corner kick found the foot of forward Natalie Means, but her chip towards the goal went right into the chest of Macy Enneking. A scary sequence, but Iowa escaped it with their lead intact and that was the only dangerous chance they were forced to defend.
The final 20 minutes ticked off the clock without much serious stress, and the Hawkeyes punched their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen. Iowa outshot Georgetown 6-5 and held a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal.
Up Next: The Hawkeyes will face the winner of UCLA/Virginia Tech with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. The game will be aired on ESPN+ and a kickoff time is still TBD.
