For the second time this season, the UCLA women’s soccer team notched a multi-goal shutout against a Top 5 opponent, upsetting No.5 Iowa 3-0 on Oct.16. The Bruins (9-4-2, 5-2-2 Big Ten) snapped a three-game scoreless streak with a relentless performance, leaving the Hawkeyes (10-3-3, 5-2-2 Big Ten) in the dust.
The game ignited in the opening minute as Iowa, clad in white, won a corner but failed to convert. UCLA, in blue, responded with lightning speed. In the second minute, Oruha Hayashi linked up with Emma Egizii, who set up Kara Croone for a tidy finish past Iowa goalkeeper Taylor Kane, making it 1-0. By the fifth minute, Payten Cooper drew a foul in the box from Iowa’s Sofia Bush, who received a red card, forcing the Hawkeyes to play a player down. Cooper’s penalty kick might have gone wide, but UCLA’s dominance continued straight.
The Bruins unleashed 17 shots and earned eight corners in the first half, while Iowa couldn’t manage a single shot. Kane’s six saves kept Iowa in the game, despite a near-miss header from Hayashi and a dangerous free kick from Lexi Wright that forced a diving stop, but UCLA held a 1-0 lead at the break.
The second half saw UCLA maintain its grip. In the 59th minute, Val Vargas found Egizii, who curled a beautiful left-footed shot into the net for a 2-0 advantage. In the 73rd minute, freshmen Grace Shank and Julia Molnar connected on a quick give-and-go, with Shank blasting a left-footed shot for her first career goal, sealing the 3-0 rout.
UCLA racked up 31 shots and 11 corners in total, while Iowa managed just one shot and one corner. The Bruins dominated the Hawkeyes by controlling possession, beating them to every ball, and showcasing superior speed and passing accuracy. UCLA goalkeeper Daphne Nakfoor easily handled Iowa’s lone shot in the 79th minute. Iowa’s goalkeeper Kane made 13 saves in a valiant but futile effort.
Riding high, UCLA looks ahead to its Senior Day matchup against Nebraska on Oct.19 at 1:00 p.m. PT, aiming to carry forward this commanding momentum
