Zach Anderson

The Jackrabbits traveled to Iowa for the first of two matches against Iowa teams Aug. 28. SDSU battled Iowa State to a 1-1 tie in a match that went into double overtime in Ames, Iowa.

“I thought we played as well as we have this season so far,” SDSU coach Lang Wedemeyer said. “They scored a great, but somewhat lucky goal early and we had to chase the game for 70 minutes. To the ladies’ credit, they persevered and got the equalizer with five minutes to go.

“We had several chances to win it at the end of regulation and into overtime, but couldn’t find the back of the net for the win,” Wedemeyer said.

SDSU rallied after giving up the first goal in the first half. At the 12:04 mark, Iowa State’s Jordan Bishop hit a 25-yard strike in the first half off an assist from teammate Casey Bothwell.

In the 86th minute of play, Kayla Braffet shot the pass from teammate Christa Nyblom into the net.

Braffet’s goal was the first score for SDSU of the season.

“Kayla was very dangerous all game and had created several chances late in the second half,” Wedemeyer said. “It was nice to see her efforts pay off. Tying Iowa State was probably a fair result.

“I think we had our fair share of missed opportunities, but they did as well. But it never leaves a good taste in your mouth about what might have been,” he said.

Brie Rogers was the goalie for the Jacks as she made six saves and allowed one goal.

The Jacks tallied 15 shots to Iowa State’s 12 shots but Iowa State had seven shots on goal while SDSU had five.

The Jacks rounded up their tour of Iowa with a 2-0 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Aug. 30.

During the 70th minute the Hawkeyes knocked in their first goal. The next goal came in the 86th minute. Iowa outshot the Jackrabbits 13-3 in the match and kept the Jacks from taking a shot on goal.

“I felt that the first half was very good,” Wedemeyer said. “We carried the play for good portions of the first 35 minutes, but did not finish the half all that well.

“I believe they gained some momentum in that time that they carried into the second half. We were obviously a bit fatigued after having to play so hard on Friday, but Iowa is probably the next best team we have played next to Minnesota,” he said.

Iowa’s Morgan Showalter scored her third goal of the season and the first goal of the game after a header by teammate Alyscha Mottershead was blocked. Showalter took control of the ball and put it in the net to make the score 1-0 in favor of Iowa. Alex Seydel hit the second and final goal for Iowa on a penalty kick in the 86th minute. The kick was Seydel’s second penalty kick score of the season.

“They did have a few other chances that either our defense or the great play from our GK Brie stifled,” Wedemeyer said. “I think as we fatigued, our chances became fewer as the game went on, but the girls never gave up.”

With the loss, the Jackrabbits fell to 0-3-1 on the year and Iowa improved to 2-1.

Brie Rogers took the net for SDSU as she allowed the two goals but came up with four saves.

“Brie Rogers in the goal was very good,” Wedemeyer said. “I thought that as a team in the first half we played every bit as well as Iowa and better at times.”

In the net for Iowa was Emily Moran who had her second straight shutout of the season.

With the loss the Jackrabbits fell to 0-3-1 on the year and Iowa improved to 2-1.

The Jacks’ next game will be at home on Sept. 4 against Wisconsin-Green Bay at 6 p.m. at Fishback Soccer Park.

“Well, we haven’t scouted UWGB yet and haven’t played them in the last few years,” said Wedemeyer. “They are always a very gritty and hard-nosed team, so it will be another good game for us.”

The offense continues to struggle as they have scored just one goal in four games and have been shut out three times this year, to Minnesota, Creighton and Iowa.

Wedemeyer said that the offense will get on track.

“We are doing a good job of getting the ball from our backs into the midfield and into the attack,” Wedemeyer said. “We just need a bit more composure when scoring opportunities present themselves.”