Nov. 8, 2006
IOWA CITY –
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This Week
The University of Iowa field hockey team will play No. 10 Virginia on Saturday, at 1 p.m. (CT) in Winston-Salem, NC. The second-round of the tournament will be on Sunday at 1 p.m. If the Hawkeyes win their first game they will play the winner of Wake Forest and American.
Last Week
The University of Iowa field hockey team defeated three nationally ranked teams (No. 15 Michigan, No. 5 Ohio State and No. 6 Penn State) on its way to the Big Ten Tournament title. The Hawkeyes beat Michigan in overtime 2-1, Ohio State 2-0 and Penn State 2-1.
Sophomore Lauren Pfeiffer carried the Hawkeyes, scoring five of the six Iowa goals during the tournament. Pfeiffer’s excellent play earned her Tournament MVP and a place on the all-tournament team. Schnepf joined Pfeiffer on the all-tournament team tallying three assists to go along with her outstanding defense.
5 Hawkeyes Earn Recognition
During the annual Big Ten banquet the conference awards were announced.
Senior Heather Schnepf was named Defensive Player of the Year she was also a unanimous first team selection. Schnepf became only the third athlete in Big Ten history to earn consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Junior Kadi Sickel and sophomore Caitlin McCurdy were named to the second team.
Freshman Meghan Beamesderfer is the second Hawkeye in as many years to earn the Freshman of the Year award (McCurdy).
The Season Continues!
The Hawkeyes were awarded the Big Ten’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Before winning the Big Ten Tournament, the chance of Iowa being selected to the NCAA tournament was slim to none.
No. 10 Virginia
Virginia competes in the ACC and has an overall record of 13-7. They finished the season with a conference record of 1-4 and lost in the second round of the ACC Tournament to No. 2 Maryland.
The Cavaliers’ are coached by Michele Madison. She is in her 18th year of being a head coach and holds a record of 221-150-8.
Before joining the staff at Virginia she was the head coach at Michigan State. During her time at Michigan State she led the Spartans to their first ever No. 1 ranking. Her record against Iowa is 8-18. Madison began her collegiate coaching at Iowa as an assistant under former Head Coach Beth Belgin during the 1980’s.
Freshman Traci Ragukas leads the Cavaliers with 15 goals and 35 points.
Don’t I Know You?
Big Ten Freshman of the Year Meghan Beamesderfer will see a familiar face on Saturday. Lucy Meyers, a sophomore for Virginia played her high school hockey with Beamesderfer.
Hawkeyes Win Second Big Ten Tournament
Iowa field hockey’s history is as impressive as any other school in the country, and the Hawkeyes added to their tradition by winning the Big Ten Tournament.
Iowa has been to the Big Ten championship game seven times since 1994 winning two of them (1994, 2006).
Pfeiffer Enters Big Ten Record Books
Sophomore Lauren Pfeiffer scored five goals in the three tournament games. This total is good enough for second most all-time in the Big Ten Tournament. Only Nancy Fisher, of Northwestern, scored more goals (6). Two others have scored five.
All Pfeiffer All The Time
Lauren Pfeiffer was named National Player of the Week by www.WomensFieldHockey.com. This is Pfeiffer’s first weekly honor of her career.
NCAA Tournament
This marks Iowa’s 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Iowa holds a record of 24-18 in the NCAA Tournament including one national title (1986).
The Hawkeyes are 13-4 in first-round games.
Winston-Salem Region
Joining the Hawkeyes and the Cavaliers in the Winston-Salem include No. 19 American (14-6) and host school No. 1 Wake Forest (19-1).