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Iowa

Iowa Soccer scores three, shuts out #26 St Louis

On3 imageby: Kyle Huesmann08/31/25HuesmannKyle
Freshman Liana Tarasco finished with a goal and assist on Sunday. (Photo by Dennis Scheidt)
Freshman Liana Tarasco finished with a goal and assist on Sunday. (Photo by Dennis Scheidt)

The Hawkeyes were not satisfied when they left Chicago on Thursday night, after settling for a 0–0 draw with Loyola-Chicago despite controlling much of the match. Coach Dave Dilanni and his team were disappointed, not necessarily with how they played, but with the fact that they were not able to come away with a win. Sunday, back home in Iowa City, they flipped the script—burying three goals en route to a 3-0 shutout win over the St Louis Billikens on Senior Day. It’s the worst defeat SLU has suffered since the ’21 season when they fell 4-0 to Rutgers in the NCAA Tournament.

“We really felt like we should have won that game (on Thursday), and coming out here today, scoring three goals really proves to ourselves and to other teams who we are,” said freshman forward Liana Tarasco.

“We just didn’t do enough to be able to control the result (on Thursday),” Coach Dave Dilanni said. “We got back at 2:30 in the morning, so credit to our kids that they bounced back. This was the first real Thursday to Sunday hard turnaround we’ve had, so really happy with this group.”

After totaling 17 shots and no goals against the Ramblers, it took the Hawkeyes one shot to score their first goal against the Billikens. In just the 5th minute of the match it was Liana Tarasco making a perfect run, taking a lead ball from Elle Wildman behind the SLU back line. The freshman from Montreal chipped one past SLU keeper Emma Parker for the opening goal.

“I thought the goal was quality. Waited just long enough for the goalkeeper to go down and then slip it in,” said Dilanni. “”She’s a Canadian national team player when you’re there, you play a lot of big games and these games are competitive and they’re faster pace, but she’s still not in awe of the game speed here.”

Facing a SLU program that has gone to the NCAA Tournament in seven consecutive seasons, one goal did not feel like enough, but Iowa had more goal scoring in the tank. A dangerous free kick opportunity in the 34th minute set the Hawkeyes up with a prime scoring chance at the top of the box. Kelli McGroarty sent the free kick on frame, and although GK Emma Parker made the diving save, Kenzie Roling was in the right place to finish the job to make it 2-0 before halftime.

“I’ve done this for 23 years and Senior Day can be pretty emotional, draining and you never know what you’re going to get,” said Dilanni. “I thought our focus right from the beginning was fantastic…The message was that we need to send them out in a good space. It’s not the end of the season, but it’s a result that matters and they’re going to always remember it.”

Leading 2-0 in the second half, the Iowa defense continued to hold the SLU attack in check. They held the Billikens to just five shots for the game and sent them home with a shutout loss for the first time in 46 games dating back to the 2023 season.

“I thought this one was a little similar to Western Michigan and Arkansas, where our front five worked hard to eliminate them playing direct and being put under a lot of pressure on the back line,” said Dilanni. “I think they did a great job. We retained the ball after the ball went in the air, and we opened them up. At the end of the day, our bench, I thought was very vital in this. (SLU) was tired at the end and we were a bit fresher…This was probably the most impactful our bench has been so far in the young season.”

In the 51st minute, Iowa tacked on another goal. Liana Tarasco attacked the top of the box, before dumping a ball off to the right for Eileen Solomon who came flying down the pitch to join the attack. The Boston U transfer didn’t even need a touch. She sent a shot on goal from the top right corner of the box and floated one over the head of the SLU keeper to extend the advantage to 3-0.

FINAL STATS

#10 Iowa 3 #26 St Louis 0

5′ – Goal Iowa Liana Tarasco (1-0), 34′ – Goal Iowa Kenzie Roling (2-0), 51′ – Goal Iowa Eileen Solomon (3-0)

Shots: Iowa 15-5 SOG: Iowa 9-2 Corners: Iowa 4-3 Fouls: Iowa 16-12

Up Next, it will be the first Cy-Hawk battle of the 2025-26 athletics season, as the 10th-ranked Hawkeyes will host the Iowa State Cyclones at the UI Soccer Complex on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm CT on BTN+.

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