Michigan
5-1-1
Iowa
6-3-0
Wolverines Notch Third Straight Shutout Win in B1G Lidlifter
9/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 16, 2016
» It took the Wolverines just 35 seconds to score the first goal of the game in the second half, and Abby Kastroll's goal proved to be the game-winner.
» Freshman Jada Dayne, who has started all seven games at center back, assisted on the game-winning goal to tally her first career point.
» Michigan recorded its third straight shutout and fourth of the season to start Big Ten play 1-0.
• Boxscore 
Site: Iowa City, Iowa (Iowa Soccer Complex)
Score: Michigan 1, Iowa 0
Records: U-M (5-1-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten), Iowa (6-3-0, 0-1-0 Big Ten)
Attendance: 1,033
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Sept. 18 -- at Nebraska (Lincoln, Neb.), 1 p.m. CDT
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team recorded its third straight shutout, and sophomore Abby Kastroll scored the game-winning goal in the 46th minute to give the Wolverines a 1-0 win over Iowa in the Big Ten opener on Friday (Sept. 16) at the Iowa Soccer Complex.
Michigan has allowed just five goals through seven games and has shut out four of its seven opponents, including each of its last three. The last time the Wolverines strung together three straight shutouts was during the 2013 season, when U-M shut out its first three opponents in the NCAA Tournament.
Junior/sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Jackson made seven saves in the clean sheet behind a stellar back line. Seniors Anna Soccorsi and Madisson Lewis and freshman Jada Dayne have started and played nearly every minute on U-M's back line, while junior Rubina Veerakone and senior Rosalind Porritt have shared time at outside back.
"We talked about our mentality after the Marquette game and said that for our team to be successful, our number one priority has to be our team defending," said head coach Greg Ryan. "If we will commit to that, we're a team that's going to find goals -- we've got a lot of goal scorers on our team. It's been a real commitment from the entire group to say 'we are not going to give the other team a sniff,' and so far it's really paying off."
After a scoreless first half that saw U-M outshoot Iowa, 16-5, it took the Wolverines just 35 seconds to get on the board in the second half. Sophomore Reilly Martin served a long free kick from the right sideline toward the back post, and the ball was bobbled around in the box. Dayne redirected the ball back into the six-year box, where Kastroll punched it in from close range to give the Maize and Blue a 1-0 lead. The assist marked Dayne's first career point at Michigan.
Iowa's most dangerous chance came in the 73rd minute when a shot from just inside the top of the box crashed off the crossbar, and then Jackson was able to corral the follow-up shot.
The Hawkeyes held a 7-5 advantage in shots in the second half, tallying two of those shots on goal in the final two and a half minutes, but Jackson preserved the shutout with two more saves.
"They started to dominate the midfield a little bit in the second half and were able to get more changes," said Ryan. "Most of their chance were shots outside the top of the box, but it took Sarah (Jackson) having a very good game to keep the shutout."
With the win, Michigan has now won each of its last six Big Ten openers.
"It's huge for us to start the Big Ten season with a win," Ryan added. "None of these games are easy, and tonight was not easy. It's great to for us to start off with our first win. Two games on the road to start your Big Ten season is tough, but we feel great about our performance tonight, and we know we're playing against a really talented Nebraska team on Sunday."
The Wolverines will remain on the road and cap their Big Ten-opening weekend at Nebraska on Sunday (Sept. 18). Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT at Barbara Hibner Stadium.
Final: Michigan 1, Iowa 0
The Wolverines shut out their 3rd straight opponent & start @B1GSoccer play 1-0! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/n2mCo1Ez9a-- Michigan Soccer (@umichwsoccer) September 17, 2016
Communications Contact: Whitney Dixon
Team Stats
Kastroll, Abby (3)
Assisted By: Dayne, Jada
tapped in from 3 after free kick
45:35
