Sept. 16, 2007
FAIRFIELD, CT – The fourth-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team defeated Fairfield (1-6) 3-1, Sunday for Head Coach Tracey Griesbaum’s 100th career win. The Hawkeyes’ 7-1 record is the best record they have had to begin a season since 2001. Sophomore Jess Werley helped the Hawkeyes by scoring her first two collegiate goals against the Stags.
Less than one minute into the first half, Werley rebounded a Hawkeye miss and scored the first goal. Werley is the tenth Hawkeye player to record a goal this season. Fairfield quickly struck back by scoring off of its first penalty corner of the game.
“The first goal was neat because it was the quickest goal of the season.” Griesbaum said. “Being inside the first minute of the game is great.” Griesbaum said.
Despite Iowa dominating Fairfield in shots taken (15-1) and penalty corners awarded (8-1), the two teams went into halftime tied at one.
“We had to stay diligent because Fairfield was aggressive and swarmed the ball on defense.” Griesbaum went on to add, “Staying strong and poised was important for us to be able to execute.”
The Hawkeyes scored their second goal of the game from a penalty corner during the 60th minute. Junior Roz Ellis received the pass from Caroline Blaum and blasted the ball past the Stags’ goalkeeper. This marks a team-high fifth goal of the season for Ellis.
With less than five minutes to play, Werley scored her second of the game. She received the pass from junior Caitlin McCurdy and slapped the ball into the cage. The assist is McCurdy’s first of the season.
Griesbaum was pleased with the win, but still saw some areas that the Hawkeyes could improve on.
“We attempted 28 shots, we should have been able to execute and score more.” Griesbaum said. “But, I was please with their poise and how they kept playing hard.”
Griesbaum now holds a career record of 100-76-3, including a record of 87-55 at the University of Iowa.
The No. 4 Hawkeyes will open Big Ten Conference play Friday at Michigan at 2 p.m. (CT) in Ann Arbor, MI.
SCORE 1st 2nd FinalIOWA 1 2 3FAIRFIELD 1 0 1
IOWA Werley (unassisted) 0:54/1stFAIRFIELD Janis (Byrnes, Hosking) 2:26/1stIOWA Ellis (Blaum) 59:47/2ndIOWA Werley (McCurdy) 65:45/2nd
Shots - Iowa 28, Fairfield 4Penalty Corners - Iowa 16, Fairfield 1Saves - Elizabeth Thomas (Fairfield) 15, Lissa Munley (Iowa) 1="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/pre%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3C/p%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Ctable%20border='0'%20cellpadding='0'%20cellspacing='0'%20align='left'%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Ctr%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Ctd%20align='center'%20width="150">
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