GREENSBORO, N.C. — Iowa broke open a tight match with a four-goal second-half explosion Sunday, August 23, 2026, overwhelming UNC Greensboro 5-1 at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
The Hawkeyes improved to 3-1 and quickly returned to their high-scoring ways after suffering their first loss of the season in a 2-0 battle against No. 11 Wake Forest on Thursday.
Sunday’s victory marked Iowa’s third match of the season with at least five goals. It is the first time since 2011 that the Hawkeyes have recorded three such victories in a single season.
UNC Greensboro kept Iowa off the scoreboard through nearly the entire opening half despite heavy pressure from the Hawkeye attack.
That changed during the final minute before halftime.
Reilly Heman broke the scoreless tie in the 45th minute, finishing an opportunity created by Lucia Englund to send Iowa into the break with a 1-0 advantage. The assist was Englund’s first of the season.
The Hawkeyes carried that momentum directly into the second half and unleashed three goals in a span of just over 15 minutes.
Alli Macke doubled Iowa’s lead in the 50th minute after a combination play involving Elle Wildman and Sofia Bush. The goal was the first of Macke’s collegiate career.
UNC Greensboro committed a foul inside the penalty area one minute later, giving Wildman an opportunity from the spot. She converted the penalty kick to stretch Iowa’s lead to 3-0 in the 51st minute.
Berit Parten added her third goal of the season in the 66th minute, striking from outside the box after receiving a pass from Jada Grove.
Heman completed the first two-goal performance of her career in the 70th minute, extending the Hawkeye advantage to 5-0.
UNC Greensboro avoided the shutout when Magdalena Krug scored in the 76th minute, producing the final 5-1 margin.
Iowa controlled nearly every statistical category, outshooting the Spartans 21-4 and holding 61 percent of the possession.
Braelynn Galt earned her third victory of the season in goal for the Hawkeyes. She made two saves while playing the first 76 minutes before Caroline Ready handled the final 14 minutes.
Iowa has now outshot its first four opponents by a staggering 88-20 margin.
Ten different Hawkeyes have scored this season. Parten, Wildman and Heman share the team lead with three goals apiece.
Iowa will now return to the state for an early-season showdown with Iowa State in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series.
The Hawkeyes will face the Cyclones at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 27, at the Cyclone Sports Complex in Ames. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.