U shut out in soccer for first time despite 22 shots

Gophers coach Stefanie Golan started her four seniors on Senior Night at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium in St. Paul.

Those four are Katie Thyken, Olivia Schultz, Taylor Wodnick and Becca Roberts.

But the visitors, Iowa, spoiled the festivities.

The Hawkeyes won 1-0, getting a goal from an unusual source, or head, to be more specific.

Sophomore Amanda Lulek, all 5-7 of her, scored on a header in the 33rd minute following a corner kick. It was her first goal of the season, no wait, it was her first goal of her college career. And it came on her only shot of the game, and first of the year in three matches.

Want more hard-to-believe stuff. Lulek scored under a minute after she went into the game. She entered at 31:38 and scored at 32:31.

"Heartbreaking loss as we played great," Golan tweeted. "1st time we've been shut out all year but the soccer looked great."

Trouble was, they went up against a hot, hot goalie. Junior Hannah Clark of Iowa came into the game with three consecutive shutouts. Now it's four in a row. She had not allowed a goal in 363 minutes and 13 seconds.

Her play has helped Iowa start 8-1 overall, 3-0 in the Big Ten. That's the best conference start for Iowa ever.

This was only the fourth win for Iowa over the Gophers and their first in the Land of 10,000 Lakes since 2007.

Clark made five saves. Rachel McCloskey had the Gophers last shot, at 89:31, but it went wide.

Gophers goalie Tarah Hobbs, the returning Big Ten goalkeeper of the year, made only one save, in the 88th minute.

Thyken led the Gophers in shots against Iowa with six, Haley Helverson led in shots on goal with two. And the Gophers had an 8-1 edge in corner kicks, but Iowa scored on the only one the Hawkeyes had.