IOWA CITY, Iowa. – Powered by a pair of first-career goals from Bri Garcia (Babylon, N.Y.) and Julie Hubbard (Waverly, Pa.), Penn State women’s soccer defeated Iowa 3-0 at the Iowa Soccer Complex on Sunday. Hubbard and Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii) each tallied three points on the afternoon.

Penn State (5-7-1, 3-1-0 Big Ten) dismantled Iowa (7-5-2, 0-3-1 Big Ten) from beginning to end, mounting a 17-shot advantage (25-9) en route to the 16th straight win in the series (15-0-0).

The Lions controlled and maintained the pace of play throughout the match and nearly went ahead 1-0 in the fourth minute when Danielle Toney (Northville, Mich.) had a chance hit the post. Soon after, Hayley Brock (Acton, Mass.) had two chances blocked leading to a corner kick in the eighth minute.

In the 14th minute, Christine Nairn (Arnold, Md.) forced the first save of the afternoon by Emily Moran (nine saves) before Iowa’s Alex Melin saw her shot stopped by Krissy Tribbett (Centennial, Colo.) in the 24th minute.

Bri Garcia (Babylon, N.Y.), who came on in the 25th minute, scored her first career 90 seconds later when Nairn launched a crossing attempt onto Garcia’s head and into the net. The redshirt-sophomore midfielder out of New York, who missed all of 2009 with a knee injury, notched her first ever point on the tally.

From there, PSU poured on the offensive pressure seeing shots by Brock and Jess Rosenbluth (Gladwyne, Pa.) pushed aside by Moran in the 27th and 33rd minutes. In the 44th minute, Costa collected the ball from Penn State’s half and played a terrific through ball to Hubbard whose 18-yard shot found the right side netting for a two-goal Penn State lead.

Iowa (7-5-2, 0-3-1 Big Ten) attempted a desperation shot at the final horn, but Tribbett (five saves) made the save to send the Lions into halftime up 2-0. Penn State dominated Iowa out-shooting the Hawkeyes 12-3 overall with a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal.

In the second half, PSU nearly added another just seconds into the frame when Nairn’s attempt from distance was stopped by Moran. Penn State ratcheted up the pressure midway through the half when Carly Niness (Berwyn, Pa.) nearly headed home a corner kick from Hubbard in the 66th minute. A minute later, Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.) had an attempt pushed aside by Moran for a corner kick.  Off the corner by Nairn, Emma Thomson’s (Nottinghamshire, England) attempt was blocked leading to yet another Nittany Lion corner, the ninth of the afternoon. Nairn sent in another gorgeous ball, but Maddy Evans (Glenside, Pa.) had her header blocked and Iowa avoided any further damage.

In the 73rd minute, Penn State’s 10th corner kick of the day saw a chance by Garcia go wide of frame. Just two minutes later, Hubbard looked to double her scoring but her shot was parried away by Moran. The 78th minute saw another Penn State opportunity go begging as Moran’s seventh and eighth saves of the game came on a pair of shots by Hayes.

The Lions finally put the third goal in the net when Costa’s long-range screamer found the right corner of the frame in the 82nd minute. The goal was Costa’s second of the season, the first since an overtime game-winner at West Virginia on Aug. 20.  Hubbard tallied the assist off a cross from the left wing. The connection by the two secured a three-point day for both of them.

The Nittany Lions out-paced the overmatched Hawkeyes with a 25-9, which included a 12-6 margin in shots on goal. Tribbett made five saves while reserve ‘keeper Kristin Hartmann (Katy, Texas) posted one in five minutes of play. PSU maintained a healthy 12-2 advantage in corner kicks. The 12 corner kicks are the most Penn State has attempted this season.

The Nittany Lions return home for a crucial two-game home stand at Jeffrey Field next weekend.  Minnesota comes to Happy Valley on Friday for a 7:00 p.m. match before first-place Wisconsin visits on Sunday for a Noon showdown. The Wisconsin match will be broadcast on Big Ten Network and shown at 4:30 p.m. Before the Minnesota match, alumni and supporters of the program are encouraged to arrive early to the stadium and take part in an Octoberfest celebration. More information will be announced later this week.