News Summary
UCLA women’s soccer secured a decisive 3-0 win against the fifth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, ending their three-game winless streak. The Bruins showcased their dominance with 31 shots and solid teamwork. Sophomore Kara Croone scored early, followed by goals from Emma Egizii and Grace Shank. Coach Margueritte Aozasa praised the team’s energy and mentality, marking this win as a crucial momentum boost heading into the postseason.
Los Angeles, CA – The UCLA women’s soccer team achieved a decisive victory over the fifth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, winning 3-0 during their match on October 19, 2025, at Wallis Annenberg Stadium. This win marked a significant turnaround for the Bruins, who ended a three-game winless streak with the commanding performance.
With this victory, UCLA improved its overall record to 9-4-2 and maintained a competitive 5-2-2 record in Big Ten play. Meanwhile, Iowa’s record after the match dropped to 10-3-3, with their own Big Ten record standing at 5-2-2.
The Bruins took an early lead thanks to a swift goal from sophomore forward Kara Croone, who found the back of the net just two minutes into the game. Things worsened for the Hawkeyes shortly thereafter when freshman forward Payten Cooper was fouled in the sixth minute, leading to a red card for Iowa’s midfielder Sofia Bush. This expulsion left Iowa with only ten players for the remainder of the match.
UCLA’s dominance was clear throughout the match, as they recorded a season-high of 31 shots, a substantial increase from their previous average of 13.7 attempts per game. Impressively, 13 out of the 18 players who participated in the game registered at least one shot. In contrast, Iowa was limited to just one shot, which occurred in the 79th minute of the match.
UCLA also showcased their prowess in set pieces, winning 11 corner kicks compared to Iowa’s solitary corner kick. Taylor Kane, Iowa’s goalkeeper, was notably challenged throughout the game, making 13 saves, which set a seasonal high for her performance this year.
In the second half, the Bruins continued to build on their lead. Junior midfielder Val Vargas assisted on a goal from Emma Egizii in the 60th minute. Later, freshman midfielder Grace Shank scored her first collegiate goal in the 74th minute, with the assist credited to freshman midfielder Julia Molnar. UCLA’s ability to rotate players during the game allowed them to provide valuable experience to their squad while maintaining a strong level of play.
Head coach Margueritte Aozasa expressed satisfaction with the team’s energy and mentality as they prepared for this critical match. This win not only serves as a much-needed morale boost for UCLA but is also seen as an opportunity to reset momentum as they approach the postseason.
Overall, the Bruins displayed a cohesive and determined performance against a ranked opponent, reinforcing their competitiveness in the Big Ten. With this victory, they aim to build on their success and improve their standings in the weeks leading up to the postseason.
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Additional Resources
- Daily Bruin: UCLA Women’s Soccer Ruffles Feathers with Decisive 3-0 Victory Over Iowa
- UCLA Bruin Athletics: Bella Bruins Beat Nebraska 3-0
- Scarlet Knights: UCLA Recap
- Google Search: UCLA women’s soccer
- Daily Bruin: Scouting Report UCLA Women’s Soccer vs Iowa Nebraska
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Soccer
