The Big Ten rarely has off nights on the schedule. It’s a tough conference that will test your team’s ability to play through adversity and earn a result. Few teams have felt that grind more than Iowa through three conference matches. After a sluggish first half, the 14th-ranked Hawkeyes surged late when it counted, netting two second-half goals to shut out rival Minnesota, 2–0, on Sunday in Iowa City.
“I didn’t like how we started. Thought we were a little flat for 10-15 minutes, but Minnesota didn’t punish us, and I think as the game went on, I really liked how we played,” said head coach Dave Dilanni. “I think we’ve got some players that are starting to take ownership.”
Through the first hour plus of the match, both sides searched to find real scoring chances. The possession was pretty even, but the Hawkeyes seemed to be the team that was closest to breaking through. Still, after 70 minutes, just like in Thursday’s match against Purdue, thoughts of a draw began to creep in. Instead of getting frustrated, sophomore forward Berkley Binggeli says it’s important to trust their coaching…