Nov. 15, 2008
EAST LANSING, MI – The University of Iowa field hockey team defeated Louisville Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 1-0. With the victory, Iowa, seeded fourth overall, advances to the second round.
“We stuck to our game plan and played with poise for 70 minutes,” said Head Coach Tracey Griesbaum. “Our execution could have been better but we stuck with it.”
The first half was a defensive battle as neither team could push across a goal. Each squad had chances but both defenses would hold strong. The first half would end with no score as both teams accumulated three shots and three penalty corners.
The sixth-ranked Hawkeyes came out firing in the second half and kept the pressure on the 13th-ranked Cardinals. In the 59th minute, Iowa was awarded a penalty corner. Caroline Blaum passed to Lauren Pfeiffer who found an open Roz Ellis. Ellis scored to give Iowa a 1-0 advantage. The stingy Hawkeye defense continued its stellar play, allowing only one shot and one penalty corner in the second half. Iowa would come away with the victory, 1-0.
This is Griesbaum’s first NCAA Tournament win at the helm of the Hawkeye program. It also marks the first Hawkeye victory in the NCAA Tournament since Iowa defeated North Carolina in the regional finals in 1999. Iowa is now 25-20 all-time in the tournament. The 25 victories are the fourth-most all-time in tournament history.
Iowa, winner of six-straight games, will face 10th-ranked Michigan State Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT) in the second round. The winner will advance to the national semifinals. The Hawkeyes and Spartans have met twice already this season, with Iowa winning both matches in overtime.
GAME SUMMARYIOWA 0 1 1UL 0 0 0
UI Roz Ellis (Caroline Blaum, Lauren Pfeiffer) 59:33/2nd
Shots - Iowa 12, Louisville 4Penalty Corners - Iowa 10, Louisville 4Saves - Lissa Munley (Iowa) 0, Heather Bustanoby (Louisville) 4
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