IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa women’s soccer team improved to 2-0 on Sunday night with a, 2-0, victory over Kansas City at the University of Iowa Soccer Complex.

Sunday’s contest was pushed back to a 7:30 p.m. (CT) start due to extreme heat, making for Iowa’s second consecutive victory following severe weather delays.

Faced with nothing but time, what has given the Hawkeyes the edge?

“The dance parties in the locker room” says junior Elle Otto. “We lift each other up by being positive. We just try to come out there on the front foot.”

Otto kept the energy flowing into the first half. The Hawkeyes started hot, converting twice in the opening period. The first goal came in the 20^th minute of play, when Otto found seventh-year player Josie Durr in the box. Durr fired a liner off the left post that bounced back through the net for the score.

Otto was back in the mix four minutes later, flying a transition pass from junior Kenzie Roling up and over the Kansas City goalkeeper for the second Hawkeye goal of the evening.

“Kenzie Roling dribbled the ball down the line, trusted me, and I busted my butt all the way to get the ball,” says Otto.

A smothering defensive effort carried Iowa the rest of the way. The Hawkeyes allowed just three Kansas City shot attempts while creating 17 shots and 11 shots on goal of their own. Goalkeeper Macy Enneking answered when called upon, hauling in a pair of saves on Sunday.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH DAVE DIIANNI

“We got two scrappy goals, which was great, and didn’t give up a goal, which is nice. But I don’t think many of us are proud walking off the field in terms of thinking we got much better. If this is the one game of the year that you have something like that and you still get a victory, we will take that…

Elle Otto is always going to grind you. She is going to work. She is going to grind. I thought some of the quality was lacking with her, but she is always going to give you a workmanlike shift and put everything out there. It was nice to see her get a goal. She is not usually much of a goal scorer; she is more of a passer.

Josie Durr is good. Those are actually two players that don’t score often who were rewarded for some effort.”

HAWKEYE NOTABLES

• Iowa has registered 42 shots and 21 shots on goal through two contests. The Hawkeye defense has allowed just four shots on goal on seven total shot attempts en route to a pair of clean sheets.
• 90 Tracker: Samantha Cary was the only Hawkeye position player to log 90 minutes of game action on Sunday. Cary also logged 90 minutes against FGCU, along with senior Rielee Fetty, senior Maggie Johnston and freshman Millie Greer.

UP NEXT

Iowa (2-0) will host in-state rival Iowa State (2-0) in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Iowa Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.