Women's Soccer Draws Home Openers

COUNCIL BLUFFS - After a six-game road trip to open up the 2025 season, Iowa Western Women's Soccer welcomed Butler CC and Lewis & Clark CC to the Bluffs.

The Reivers (5-0-3) matched up with the Grizzlies on Friday afternoon and played to a nil-nil first half, outshooting the visitors by two in the first 45 minutes of play. 

Iowa Western finally found a goal in the 59th minute when Freshman Evelyn Soto played a ball across the face of Butler's goal, Quinci Smith had her shot deflected off the foot of a Grizzly defender right towards Sophomore Arianna Harrison, who buried it in the back of the net.

Eight minutes later, Butler found the equalizer.  Forward London Ingram, who tested the Reiver defense all afternoon, finally snuck a ball past Goalkeeper Alice Russell on a long ball that hit Ingram in stride for the bang-bang goal and the 1-1 result.

Game two on Saturday afternoon again saw the Reivers kept off the score sheet in the first half.  One minute and 14 seconds into the second half, Iowa Western found a free kick from 25 yards out, and Sophomore Mariana Brito struck it over the head of Lewis & Clark Goalkeeper Agathe Boudin for the goal.

Down but not out, the Trailblazers ramped up the pressure in the second half, and on a long throw-in, Sarah Heurtel put it away in the 84th minute to level the match, 1-1.

"Tonight was another very good opponent to challenge us," said Head Coach Bruce Erickson. "Lewis & Clark and Butler on Friday gave us great games that will allow us to grow. To play our 8th game in 16 days is unprecedented, and I'm proud of our players for getting through this gauntlet of games, which started with six in a row on the road, and coming away with eight results.  We look forward to training and getting prepared for a big week ahead."

The Reivers will head to Sioux City to take on Western Iowa Tech on September 10th before another pair of home games versus Monroe CC and Seminole State CC next weekend.