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Hawkeyes fall to LSU at the NCAA Tournament

On3 imageby: Kyle Huesmann8 hours agoHuesmannKyle
The Hawkeyes fell to LSU in the NCAA Tournament on Friday evening. (Photo by UI Athletics)
The Hawkeyes fell to LSU in the NCAA Tournament on Friday evening. (Photo by UI Athletics)

As rain poured down and conditions on the pitch deteriorated, Iowa and LSU battled it out with a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on the line. The 4th-seeded Tigers came up with the winner, a 66th minute score from leading goal scorer Ava Galligan. That goal put LSU in front 2-1 and they were able to hold on to advance to the program’s first ever Sweet Sixteen appearance.

Dave Dilanni’s squad came to play and nearly put a goal on the board in the opening minute of the match. Just 26 seconds in, Elle Wildman put a shot on goal. that was gloved away by LSU GK Audur Scheving, but it wasn’t out of harm’s way. Kenzie Roling came flying in at the far post for a follow up chance that was blocked by a Tigers defender.

In the 14th minute, it was the same pair, Roling and Wildman, linking up for the opening goal of the match. On the near side of the pitch, Kenzie Roling found herself in some space against the LSU back line and delivered a perfect through ball, across the front of goal. Wildman ran onto it and finished at the far post for her second goal of the season.

The 1-0 advantage did not hold for long. LSU was awarded a penalty kick in the 17th minute after Berit Parten was whistled for a foul in the box on Sariyah Bailey. The penalty went for a VAR check, but was upheld, despite what appeared to be limited contact by Parten. Ida Hermannsdottir stepped up to the penalty spot and slotted her attempt into the right side of the goal, equalizing just 2:32 after the Hawkeyes went in front.

For the majority of the second half, the Hawkeyes controlled possession and had chances in the box but were unable to break through. Although Iowa looked like the better side, at times, it came down to just two big moments. In the 50th minute, Berit Parten nearly put the Hawkeyes in front. Going for goal on a shot from the edge of the box, Parten’s attempt took a deflection off of the leg of an LSU defender and hit off the crossbar. The Tigers managed to clear and keep the 1-1 score intact.

Then, in the 66th minute, it was LSU’s best player, Ava Galligan, coming through in the biggest moment of their season. A game-time decision, Galligan did not sub in until the 54th minute, but needed just one sequence to make her mark. Defender Sydney Cheesman sent a long ball down the field from the defensive half and Galligan was able to outrun the Hawkeye defense, finishing at a tough angle for her 11th goal of the season.

Iowa earned corner kicks in the 79th, 80th and 88th minute, but were unable to find the game-tying goal.

The Hawkeyes season comes to a close at 12-5-4. They advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in six seasons and are one of just 11 teams play in the Round of 32 in each of the last three seasons.

FINAL STATS

#4 LSU 2 #5 Iowa 1

14′ – Goal Iowa Elle Wildman (1-0), 17′ – Goal LSU Ida Hermannsdottir (PK) (1-1), 66′ – Goal LSU Ava Galligan (2-1)

Shots: Iowa 11-9 Shots on Goal: LSU 5-3 Corners: Iowa 5-2 Fouls: Iowa 20-15

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