Leadership and Adaptability Drive the Defense
Iowa Soccer has built a reputation over the past seven seasons as a defensive powerhouse, posting 67 shutouts and allowing just 113 goals, a record that translates to an average of 0.83 goals conceded per game.
The departure of key defenders has forced a reshaping of that unit, with only one of the three starters from last year returning. New faces such as Sara Batchadji, the 2023 DII National Player of the Year, and Lucia Englund, a two‑time All‑Big East selection, are expected to anchor the backline alongside holdover Lexy Griffin and Sammy Reimer.
At the heart of the defense is Millie Greer, a two‑time Second Team All‑Big Ten honoree and the program’s Defensive Player of the Year. Greer, who logs an average of 87.8 minutes per game, brings leadership and experience that Coach Dean Ward believes will be pivotal in maintaining defensive solidity.
The goalkeeper position is also in flux, with Braelynn Galt, Caroline Ready and Lexi Baldwin vying for the starting spot. Each brings a distinct skill set, and Ward has emphasized adaptability, ready to adjust tactics based on the opponent while preserving the team’s defensive core.
Ward, who previously worked under Dave Dilanni’s defensively oriented schemes, is introducing a more attacking philosophy for his first season, but he insists that defensive responsibility remains the foundation. The blend of Greer’s leadership, the new backline talent, and a flexible tactical approach aims to restore Iowa’s prominence in the Big Ten.