Nov. 13, 2004
COLLEGE PARK, MD – The University of Iowa field hockey team was defeated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on the campus of the University of Maryland Saturday. The Hawkeyes fell to American University, 2-1, and finish the 2004 season with a 13-8 record.
“American came out with lots of defensive intensity and we really struggled to get the ball out of our backfield,” Iowa Head Coach Tracey Griesbaum said. “It’s a hard way to go out, but I am really proud of our team, especially our seniors.”
After American jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first ten minutes of the game, the Hawkeyes began to press the attack. With 5:30 left in the first half, the Iowa offense had a great chance to score when the forward line swarmed down on goalkeeper Allison Fayfich and got the sophomore netminder out of position. With the goal wide open, a shot by Margot McMahon went wide and the Eagle remained in the lead.
Iowa pressed the attack at the beginning of the second half, and tied the game up with 17:27 left in the game when senior Lauren Stiver scooped up a loose ball and drilled it to the back of the cage.
American came right back looking for the equalizer, and looked like they were about to score with 11 minutes left until sophomore Heather Schnepf made an amazing diving defensive save to preserve the tie. It was Schnepf’s second defensive save of the day, and gave her a team-best five on the season.
With 5:23 left, the Eagles’ Maggie Hall scooped up a rebound and scored the game-winning goal from her knees. Hawkeye goalkeeper Barb Weinberg got her foot on the ball, but didn’t get enough of the shot to steer it clear of the back of the cage.
The Hawkeyes tried to earn a penalty corner in the final minutes, but the American defense stood firm and sealed the game.