For the third year in a row, the Bishop Garrigan Golden Bears are back in the semi-finals and are preparing for their matchup against the Audubon Wheelers. The 11-0 Golden Bears have been dominant all season long. So far, they’ve cruised through the playoffs with a margin of victory of at least 30 points in all three of their postseason games. However, this run of success doesn’t date back far. Prior to their state championship season in 2023, the golden bears were coming off of back-to-back 3-5 seasons. Head coach Marty Wadle credits his players and coaches for the turn around that’s lead to their third straight UNI Dome appearance.

Like Audubon, the Bishop Garrigan defense has stood out. During the regular season, the Golden Bears pitched three shutouts and allowed no more than 20 points in a single game. The 21 points they gave up to Don Bosco last week was the most this season. In addition to their low points allowed total, they are adept at taking away the football. The Golden Bears defense has recorded 21 interceptions and 6 fumble recoveries. Wadle says that their scheme plays a big part of their defense, but players’ preparation is the key.

Individually, the Golden Bears have lots of talent, but none stand out like Ethan Marso. Standing 6’2 and 230 pounds, he is a leader both on offense and defense. Offensively, he is the team’s leading rusher with 1,212 yards and 25 touchdowns. On defense his 44.5 tackles lead the team while his seven tackles for loss ranks second on the team. His size and athleticism mixed with drive and focus are a special combination.

For as much attention as Marso deserves, his quarterback deserves some too. Tate Foertsch has thrown for 1,121 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing over 65% of his passes. He has also run for 942 yards and 13 additional scores. Wadle says his vision and accuracy in addition to his improvements have allowed him to succeed.

Standing on the other side is one of the more formidable teams in the class. Audubon currently ranks first in total touchdowns, rushing touchdowns, and all-purpose yards while ranking second in rushing yards. Wadle knows they will have to be prepared for both a physical and mobile front with special talent in the backfield.

Defensively he thinks the Wheelers will be a big challenge to handle.

Ultimately, the line of scrimmage and the turnover margin will be big keys in this contest between two elite teams.

You can catch all the action on KJAN with coverage beginning at 9 am with kickoff scheduled for 10 am.

Iowa State forced 26 turnovers and rolled to a 96-80 win over Mississippi State in Sioux Falls. The Cyclones took command with a late flurry in the opening half and led 53-35 at the break.

That’s ISU coach T.J. Otzelberger, Nine different Cyclones scored as they move to 3-0.

Senior guard Tamin Lipsey led the way with 25 points and six assists.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa women’s soccer team earned a No. 5 regional seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes (11-4-4) will host South Dakota State (13-2-6) in a first-round matchup on Friday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. (CT) at the Iowa Soccer Complex.

Iowa earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after posting an 11-4-4 overall record, including a 6-2-3 mark in Big Ten Conference play to finish tied for third in the league standings. The Jackrabbits earned an automatic berth after capturing the Summit League Conference Tournament, defeating the top two seeds en route to the championship.

The Hawkeyes currently hold a 2-1-0 advantage in the all-time series against the Jackrabbits, with the most recent meeting resulting in a 2-0 Iowa victory on Aug. 30, 2009.

Second-round action is set for Nov. 20, with Sweet 16 matches scheduled for Nov. 23.

Tickets will be required for entry. Links to purchase tickets will be available on the women’s soccer schedule page at hawkeyesports.com once released. For updates, follow @HawkeyeSoccer on Twitter/X. All first-round matches will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required).

NCAA Tournament Notables

• The Hawkeyes are making their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance — a program record.
  • Friday’s match marks the third straight year Iowa has hosted an NCAA Tournament contest at home.
  • Iowa defeated Bucknell, 2-0, in 2023 drawing a program-record crowd of 2,639 fans. In 2024, the Hawkeyes topped Missouri State, 2-1, with 2,267 fans in attendance.
  • It marks the program’s sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
• All four NCAA Tournament victories in program history have come under head coach Dave DiIanni.
  • Last season, the Hawkeyes advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.
  • Prior to DiIanni’s arrival, Iowa had made just one NCAA Tournament appearance. Under DiIanni’s leadership, the program has earned five.
  • DiIanni owns a 4-5 record in NCAA Tournament play with the Hawkeyes.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake guards Abbie Aalsma and Anna Becker both garnered weekly conference awards after starting the 2025-26 season on the right foot. Aalsma picked up the first MVC Player of the Week award while Becker was named MVC Freshman of the Week.

Aalsma opened the season on fire, averaging 22.5 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range. She tallied 22 points with three assists in a win at Eastern Illinois and followed with 23 points and three rebounds against Creighton, pacing the Bulldogs’ offense in both contests.

Becker made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, averaging 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 50% from the floor. Becker scored 22 points with seven rebounds and 10 made free throws in a season-opening win at Eastern Illinois, then added five points and six boards against Creighton.

UIC’s Jessica Carrothers, a Butler and IU Northwest transfer, collected MVC Newcomer of the Week honors.

Aalsma, Becker, and the Bulldogs will be at No. 21 Iowa on Thursday before returning home to battle No. 14 Iowa State next week.

The UNI wrestling team will start its season one week later than expected. Travel issues prevented the Panthers from even getting to Pennsylvania for the Journey Wrestling Collegiate Classic. UNI coach Doug Schwab.

Schwab says they got as far as Charlotte before eventually returning to Cedar Rapids.

UNI will open the National Duals on Saturday morning in Tulsa, Oklahoma, against seventh ranked North Carolina State.

Northern Iowa football coach Todd Stepsis says the Panthers must eliminate foolish penalties as they prepare to visit top ranked North Dakota State. UNI is coming off its first Missouri Valley win 31-14 over Murray State, but in that game had eight penalties for 85 yards.

Stepsis says foolish penalties and mistakes will be difficult to overcome against the Bison.

North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton has passed for more than 21 hundred yards and rushed for more than 700.

Stepsis says he was happy to see his team rewarded with a first conference win.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of Iowa women’s tennis team wrapped up play at the ITA Sectional Championships on Sunday at the Mitchell Tennis Center.

Senior Daianne Hayashida competed against Violeta Martinez of Texas A&M in the playoff 5-8 bracket, falling 6-4, 6-2, after a competitive effort.

The Hawkeyes will return to action at the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Indiana, from Nov. 14-16.

Singles – Playoff 5-8
Violeta Martinez (Texas A&M) def. Daianne Hayashida (Iowa), 6-4, 6-2

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Hawkeyes (14-5) will travel to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to face Duke on November 14 at 1:30 p.m. in the Sweet 16. The game will be played at Karen Shelton Stadium and streamed on ESPN+.

“We are so excited for the postseason,” said head coach Lisa Cellucci. “This group has grown through every challenge and they have earned the right to still be playing. To reach our 29th NCAA Sweet Sixteen is incredibly meaningful, to our team, our athletic department, our alumni, and everyone who’s poured into this program. We are grateful, we are locked in, and we are ready for more.”

Iowa will also be in a pod with No. 1 national seed North Carolina and Duke. St. Joseph and Drexel meet on November 12 for a chance to move on to face the Tar Heels. The two winners will play on November 16 for a spot in the Final Four.

The Sweet 16 appearance is the seventh for the Hawkeyes under Cellucci. Iowa’s 29 appearances are the most of any school as a member of the Big Ten Conference.

Duke is 12-7 overall and finished 4-4 in ACC play in 2025. The Blue Devils advanced to the semifinal game of the ACC Tournament before falling to North Carolina, 5-2.

It will be the 10th meeting all-time between Iowa and Duke (Duke leads the series 6-3). The teams last met in the 2019 Sweet 16 with Iowa winning 3-2.

The Drake women never led in an 83-74 loss at home to Creighton. The Bulldogs trailed by 14 points in the third quarter before rallying to within four in the final quarter.

That’s Drake coach Allison Pohlman. The Bulldogs fall to 1-1.

The 21st ranked Iowa Hawkeye women outscored Evansville 29-10 in the opening quarter and posted a record breaking 119-43 victory in Iowa City. The 119 points are the most in program history as well as the 76 point margin of victory. Iowa coach Jan Jensen.

That is when the Hawkeyes host Drake. Jensen felt the Hawkeyes set the tone on defense.

Transfer point guard Chit-Chat Wright had a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists.