Iowa Hosts Northwestern Sunday

Oct. 19, 2010

Complete Release

THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa field hockey team returns home to Iowa City this weekend. The Black and Gold will continue conference play against Northwestern Sunday at Grant Field. The match is scheduled to begin at noon. Admission is free. Iowa will honor seniors Chelsea Miller and Sarah Pergine. The match will also be part of “Pink Weekend” to help raise awareness for breast cancer. Additionally, fans can watch the match at bigtennetwork.com.

THANKS SENIORS
Chelsea Miller and Sarah Pergine will be honored when the Hawkeyes host Northwestern Sunday. Both were members of Hawkeye teams that won two Big Ten Tournament championships, appeared in two NCAA Tournaments and advanced to the 2008 NCAA Final Four. Collectively, the duo has started 87 career games.

PINK WEEKEND
The University of Iowa field hockey, soccer and volleyball programs will host a “Pink Weekend” to help raise awareness for breast cancer this weekend. The Zeta Tau Alpha sorority chapter will help hand out pink ribbons to fans at the volleyball, field hockey, and soccer events this weekend.

SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern is 10-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play and is receiving votes in the latest Kookaburra/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll. They are 4-5 on the road. The Wildcats are coached by Tracey Fuchs. She is in her second season.

SERIES HISTORY
The Hawkeyes have faced Northwestern more than any opponent in school history and have recorded more wins (50) over the Wildcats than any other opponent. Iowa won at Northwestern last season in overtime, 1-0.

HAWKEYES IN BIG TEN PLAY
Iowa (3-11, 0-4) continues conference play Sunday against Northwestern. Iowa will close the regular season Oct. 30, hosting Ohio State at Grant Field. Iowa finished 3-3 in the Big Ten last season. The Hawkeyes are 211-80-6 against current Big Ten teams and lead every series: (Indiana: 13-6), (Michigan: 39-15), (Michigan State: 45-12-1), (Northwestern: 50-17-4), (Ohio State: 41-12), (Penn State: 23-18-1). Iowa has claimed 11 Big Ten regular season titles in school history and four Big Ten Tournament championships.

LAST TIME OUT
Indiana edged Iowa Friday in overtime, 2-1, in Bloomington, Ind. Iowa then lost at No. 10 Louisville on Sunday, 4-1.

HAWKEYES ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK
The Iowa field hockey team will appear on the Big Ten Network twice during the 2010 regular season. Iowa’s match against Big Ten rival Michigan was shown live last Sunday at Grant Field. The Hawkeyes’ match at home against Ohio State (Oct. 30) will also be shown. It will be televised as a same day tape delay at 5 p.m. Both times are central. In addition, coverage of the Big Ten Tournament can be seen on the Network. Iowa has won three of the last four Big Ten tournaments. Iowa’s match Sunday against Northwestern can be seen at bigtennetwork.com.

IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa will play, or has played, eight of the current NFHCA top 20 this season. In addition, the Hawkeyes will face or have faced five of the teams receiving votes in the latest poll. The Big Ten Conference currently has four teams ranked in the top 20. Ohio State sits at sixth in the latest rankings. Joining the Buckeyes is Michigan State (No. 9), Penn State (No. 11) and Michigan (No. 12). Northwestern and Indiana are receiving votes.

IOWA AT GRANT FIELD
2010 marks the sixth year Iowa has played on the new Grant Field. Iowa owns an overall home record of 127-39, a conference record of 57-20 at home and an 11-2 record in NCAA Tournament games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have gone undefeated on their home field in six separate seasons, including a 40-game home winning streak. Iowa is 2-2 at home this season, falling to Miami (OH) (5-1) and Michigan (2-0) and downing Brown (5-0) and Ball State (2-0).

STAT LEADERS
Sophomore Jessica Barnett leads the Hawkeyes in a number of statistical categories. She leads the team with 53 shots and also leads the team with 14 points and seven goals. Sophomore Geena Lesiak has recorded four assists to lead Iowa. Additionally, sophomore Kathleen McGraw is tied for fourth in the Big Ten with three shutouts.

BEGLIN NAMED TO 22ND IOWA HALL OF FAME CLASS
Former Hawkeye Head Coach Beth Beglin was inducted by the National Iowa Varsity Club and the University of Iowa Athletics Department into the Athletics Hall of Fame. A member of the 22nd class, she was honored Sept. 5 at Grant Field at the conclusion of Iowa’s game against Miami (OH).

Beglin was the Iowa field hockey coach from 1988 to 1999. She led the Hawkeyes to 10 NCAA Tournaments, including seven Final Fours and runner-up finishes in 1988 and 1992. Beglin guided the Black and Gold to seven conference championships and the 1994 Big Ten Tournament Championship. She was named conference coach of the year seven times, Midwest Region Coach of the Year five times and National Coach of the Year in 1992. In addition, Beglin coached 39 All-Americans, 67 All-Conference selections, 16 U.S. National Team members and two members of the 1996 USA Olympic Team.