The early torchbearer for University of Iowa athletics is the women's soccer team, which dominated two weekend matches before any other Hawkeye varsity team has taken the field, court, or course.

During decisive victories against Eastern Illinois and North Dakota, UI sophomore forward Cloe Lacasse had as many shots (nine) as the two opponents combined. Plus, Lacasse found the net three times, while UI goalkeepers Hannah Clark and Kiley Beck posted two shutouts.

"It's always good to start with two wins, and now we know what to work on," says Lacasse, a native of Ontario, Canada, who had the game-winner Sunday against North Dakota. "It felt good to start our scoring; everyone got into the game, so we could see what they have."

Iowa began the season with a 5-0 win against Eastern Illinois on Friday, Aug. 17, and added a 3-0 victory over North Dakota on Sunday, Aug. 19. The Hawkeyes outshot their opponents 43-9.

"The first weekend we saw some things that were good; we saw some things we need to work on," UI head coach Ron Rainey says. "It's something we can take into training this week and try to make ourselves better."

Rainey didn't need a stat sheet to rattle off an area he wants to see improvement. "We ran ourselves offside too many times," he says.

Eighteen times to be exact: five times Friday and 13 times Sunday.

"That's just mentally not being focused on what you need to do on the attacking third of the field," Rainey says.

Last season the Hawkeyes bolted to nine consecutive victories out of the gate. Sunday's result left them with a 2-0 start for the third time in Rainey's seven seasons as head coach (2008, 2011, 2012). It has happened seven times in the history of the program that began in 1997.

"A big thing for us is how we approach this week," Rainey says. "How do we make ourselves better? Classes are going on, we are practicing, and we have two games on the weekend."

The Hawkeyes host Loyola Chicago at 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 24, before tackling their first road test Sunday, Aug. 26, at Northern Iowa.

On paper, it promises to be a busier weekend for Clark and Beck. Neither was credited with a save against Eastern Illinois; Beck had three and Clark had two against North Dakota.

"Sometimes you don't get as much action as you want, so you stay focused and mentally ready," Clark says. "When we're not getting shots, we have to be ready for when we do get them."