Oct. 22, 2005
The University of Iowa Hawkeyes (10-5, 3-2) took on the Indiana Hoosiers (13-2, 4-1) in field hockey action today. The Hawkeyes stopped the Hoosiers 2-1 in overtime, and halted Indiana’s ten-game win streak.
“Obviously we knew that this was going to be a very physical game, but we felt that we were very evenly matched up with Indiana,” said Head Coach Tracey Griesbaum after the win. “Everyone did a very good job today, and I was really proud of the team. “
Indiana led the Hawkeyes at halftime by a score of 1-0. The Hoosiers took the early lead six minutes into the game when senior Kayla Bashore scored her 11th goal of the season.
Iowa junior Kara Zappone tied the game up at 1-1 on a goal at the five minutes into the second half. Defense was the name of the game after that, with both teams trying hard to keep the other from scoring. The first corner of the second half didn’t come until there were 13 minutes left in the game and Indiana managed to get a shot off, but Lissa Munley came up with a big save.
Neither team scored in the rest of regulation, sending the Hawkeyes into their first overtime game of the season. Caitlin McCurdy dribbled into the arc and had the net in her sight when Indiana’s Haley Exner came out of the goal and took her out with a slide. Senior Debbie Birrell took the one-on-one penalty shot for the Hawkeyes, but Exner blocked the attempt. Following the penalty shot, each team had an opportunity to close the game out on corner shots, but couldn’t score. Iowa kept the momentum on their side and McCurdy scored the game-winning goal eight and a half minutes in overtime.
“Kelly Slattery had a tough assignment trying to keep Indiana’s top threat Kayla Bashore in check and Heather Schnepf had a number of amazing tackles on defense,” said Griesbaum. “Going into our first overtime game of the season, I felt that we were really prepared. We had a lot of good opportunities to score, and even had a penalty stroke. We were about to substitute right before Caitlin’s goal, then she scored and that was it.”
Slattery held Bashore to just one goal and two shots. Schnepf had two defensive saves in the game, including one on an Indiana corner shot attempt.
Offensively, Birrell took six shots for Iowa and had one assist. McCurdy had four shots and one goal and Zappone was 1-1 on the day.
Munley picked up her tenth win of the season. She had five saves to boost her season total to 63.
The Hawkeyes hit the road next week to take on Michigan in Ann Arbor on Friday and then stay in Ann Arbor face Louisville on Saturday. Iowa returns home to host the Big Ten Tournament Nov. 4-6.