Iowa Soccer stuns Northwestern behind Lauren Geczik's 88th minute winner
The Hawkeyes may have suffered from a bit of a hangover coming off of a huge home win over 15th-ranked Penn State to kick off the weekend. They trailed 1-0 as late as the 67th minute against Northwestern on Sunday in Evanston, but Dave Dilanni’s squad turned on the jets in the late stages to pull out a 2-1 victory.
Iowa’s 9-0-3 record sets a program record for the most games without a loss to begin a season. It’s also the first time they have recorded four wins in Big Ten play without a loss.
“This team has won games a lot of different ways this year. Today, we were tired but found a way to stay in the game long enough to grind out a win on the road in a very difficult environment,” said head coach Dave Dilanni.
The first 45 minutes were sluggish for both sides, as the Hawkeyes and Wildcats combined for just three shots. Northwestern had the best look of the half in the 7th minute. A cross into the box from midfielder Alex Fallon found Megan Norkett, but her header slipped just wide of the goal.
The Wildcats had designs on an upset win and broke through from the penalty spot in the 59th minute. Northwestern was awarded a penalty kick after defender Eva Pattison committed a foul in the box. Josie Aulicino stepped up and converted from the spot to put the ‘Cats in front 1-0. However, from that point on, the Hawkeyes ‘hangover’ was over, and they showed an urgency with their attack over the final 30 minutes of the match.
Iowa found the equalizer in the 67th minute. Elle Otto received a pass from Lauren Geczik at the edge of the box, made a move past a Northwestern defender and slotted a low shot past GK Reiley Fitzpatrick for her first goal of the season.
“I’m so excited for Elle Otto who get her first goal of the season. She has created so much for herself and our team but has been very unlucky in front of the goal,” said Dilanni. “I’m so proud of her and our team’s perseverance today.”
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As the match worked closer and closer towards the 90-minute mark, it looked more and more likely that the game would end in a draw. However, the Hawkeyes cobbled together one more throw of the dice in the dying embers of the match.
After Maya Hansen earned a corner kick, Northwestern was able to defend against a pair of corners, but they were forced to clear them off the end line. That gave the Hawkeyes a second, and third opportunity. On Iowa’s third corner kic, Lauren Geczik, the Texas A&M transfer, hooked a high arcing ball towards the goal and it cleared the gloves of leaping Reiley Fitzpatrick for a direct corner kick goal to give Iowa a stunning 88th minute winner.
The Hawkeyes finished the match with a 7-5 advantage in shots, with all seven shots going on goal. Elle Otto and Meike Ingles combined for five of the teams’ seven shots. Iowa has now outshot their opponents 192-91 this season and are one of just two ranked teams to put more than 50% of their total shots on goal.
Up Next: The Hawkeyes return home to Iowa City for a match against the Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday at the UI Soccer Complex. Kickoff is set for 1:00pm CT on BTN+.
