Sept. 25, 2005
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COLUMBUS, OHIO — The University of Iowa field hockey team (6-4, 0-1) fell victim to an Ohio State squad that has been on a tear lately. The Buckeyes (8-2, 2-0) defeated ninth-ranked Michigan 6-1 earlier this week and carried that momentum into today’s contest, defeating the No. 10 Hawkeyss, 4-2.
The first half was full of action as the teams combined for five of the six goals scored in the game. Ohio State scored first at the 18:34 mark when Saskia Mueller found Leticia Fragapane open for a goal. Less than two minutes later, the Buckeyes increased their lead to 2-0 when Lauren Cruse hit a loose ball into the net.
After Ohio State’s second goal, Iowa Coach Tracey Griesbaum called a timeout to pull her squad together. Minutes after the break Kadi Sickel took a pass from Caitlin McCurdy on a corner shot to pull Iowa within one point, 2-1. The scoring continued when the Buckeyes Saskia Mueller scored on a penalty shot to extend the Ohio State lead, 3-1. The Hawkeyes went into the half just one goal down, 3-2, after McCurdy found the net on a corner shot at the 32:09 mark.
The Hawkeyes couldn’t muster any offense in the second half and only took one shot in the final 35 minutes. Luckily the Iowa defense didn’t fold and allowed only one Ohio State goal in ten attempts. Yesenia Luces scored the final goal of the contest eight minutes into the second half and the Buckeyes held on for the 4-2 victory.
The Buckeye defense held Iowa’s offense in check allowing only four shots the entire game. Sickel, a sophomore, scored her third goal of the season and McCurdy, a freshman, took two shots and scored once for her fourth goal this season. Senior Debbie Birrell accounted for the fourth Iowa shot taken in the game. Ohio State took 18 shots, eight in the first half and ten in the second.
Freshman Lissa Munley had a busy day in the net, with five saves all coming in the second half. The fours goals scored against her by Ohio State increases her goals against total to 14 and her goals against average to 1.4 per game.
Iowa returns home next weekend to face Michigan State (7-3, 0-1) on Saturday, October 1. The contest will begin at noon.