June 8, 2009
IOWA CITY, IA – – The University of Iowa has announced the 2009 schedule. The Hawkeyes will face another challenging slate, as 13 of 17 opponents were ranked or receiving votes at the end of the 2008 season.
Iowa will begin the season by hosting the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge at Grant Field. The Hawkeyes will face NCAA Finals participant Wake Forest (Aug. 29) and North Carolina (Aug. 30). Big Ten rival Michigan will also compete in the event. Last season the Challenge was held in Winston-Salem, NC. Iowa lost to Wake Forest and defeated the top-ranked Tar Heels, ending their 25-match winning streak.
In Big Ten play, the Black and Gold will host Indiana, Michigan State and Penn State. The Hawkeyes travel to Michigan, Ohio State and Northwestern.
The Big Ten Tournament will be held at East Lansing, MI, November 5-8. Iowa will be seeking its fourth-straight tournament championship. The Hawkeyes were 2-0 last season in East Lansing.
The first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament will be November 14-15, with the NCAA Finals on November 20-22 at Wake Forest. Iowa finished 18-5 in 2008 and advanced to the NCAA semifinals before falling to eventual national champion Maryland in double overtime.