Oct. 22, 2004
EAST LANSING, MI – The No. 15 University of Iowa field hockey team fell to the fifth-ranked Michigan State Spartans, 2-1, in overtime tonight in East Lansing, MI. The loss puts Iowa (9-6, 4-1) in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Ten with Michigan State (14-2, 4-1) and Michigan (12-5, 4-1). The Hawkeyes can clinch a share of the title by defeating Northwestern in their final Big Ten match, next Sunday, October 31.
The game was the fifth time in eight games the Hawkeyes have played into overtime.
Michigan State’s high-powered offense peppered the Hawkeye defense with shots throughout the game, but all-American goalkeeper Barb Weinberg was up to the task and kept the game scoreless through the first half. For the game, Michigan State out-shot Iowa 22-6, earning 12 penalty corners to Iowa’s three.
The Spartans finally cracked the scoreboard 5:30 into the second half on a goal from Veerle Goudswaard, the nation’s leading scorer.
Iowa jumped right back with some offense of its own, when senior forward Sarah Dawson buried a pass from Debbie Birrell to tie the game at 1-1 just five minutes later. The Hawkeye defense tightened up and kept the game tied through regulation.
The game ended 5:28 into overtime when Goudswaard scored on a penalty corner, the Spartans’ second in overtime.
Iowa will finish up the regular season next weekend with a game against Southwest Missouri State Friday at 3 p.m., and a Sunday game against Northwestern at Noon. Both games will be played on Grant Field.