IOWA CITY, Iowa – For the second time in less than a week, the Montana soccer team took a Big Ten team to the wire. However, the Griz were unable to score, falling to the Iowa Hawkeyes 1-0.
 
"We battled and fought," head coach Mark Plakorussaid. "Once again, I'm real proud of our effort and competitive fight. Our performance was very good against a very talented and difficult team. We're close. We have to keep working to find a way to beat these teams."
 
The Hawkeyes (5-1) got whistled for eight fouls to UM's five, but it was a Griz foul in the 33^rd minute that led to the game's only goal. After an Iowa attempt was cleared back to UM goalkeeper Claire Howard, her kick had a spin that hit teammate Raquel Watts on the hand.
 
The Griz (4-3) were whistled and Iowa's Natalie Winters nailed a penalty kick to give her team a 1-0 advantage.
 
"It was an unfortunate circumstance," Plakorus said.
 
In addition to the foul count, Iowa was also called offside five times – compared to zero times for UM – but the Hawkeyes outshot the Griz 12-7. Howard tied a career high with five saves.
 
Despite being outshot by a margin of 12-7, UM had just one fewer shot on goal than the Hawkeyes, meaning the Griz were getting good looks. Those good looks kept coming right down to the wire.
 
Needing a goal to tie the score and send the game into overtime, Hallie Widner gave the Griz a chance in the 82^nd minute. Four minutes later, Dani Morris had a shot on goal. Even with 42 seconds to play, the Griz had a corner kick with the ball deep in Hawkeye territory.
 
Nothing would fall, however.
 
"They were legit good looks," Plakorus said. "We created what we needed to, we just weren't able to generate clear looks. We got blocked a lot or sent our shots just wide."
 
Iowa was on the attack early, taking two shots in the first 79 seconds and six shots before the Griz got its first attempt – one that sailed wide by Ellie Otteson in the 21^st minute. Otteson also had UM's second attempt, a shot on goal in the 25^th minute.
 
"I thought we started out a little nervous, but we weathered the storm and worked our way back into the game," Plakorus said.
 
Otteson and Morris had two shots apiece, while Charlene Burger, Raye Burton and Widner had one. Taryn Miller played all 90 minutes for the seventh consecutive match
 
Prior to its back-to-back losses to Big Ten schools, Montana had won three consecutive matches. The Griz will look to rebound on Sunday, facing a Northern Iowa squad that is undefeated and has yet to allow a goal all season. Kickoff is at 11 a.m. MT and can be watched on ESPN3.

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