Hawkeyes Impressive in Home Opener

Stats | Boxscore

Sept. 2, 2011

Box Score | Photo Gallery

• USA Field Hockey
• Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
• Iowa and the Big Ten Network
• Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
• 24 Hawkeyes to Watch

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa field hockey team defeated Kent State, 7-3, Friday evening in its home opener at Grant Field. The Hawkeyes, ranked 23rd nationally, move to 2-1 with the victory.

Kim Scraper led the Hawkeyes with three goals, marking Iowa’s first hat trick since Meghan Beamesderfer tallied three scores against Michigan in the first round of the 2009 Big Ten Tournament. Five Hawkeyes notched a goal in the victory.

“I like the fact that we shared all of our goals,” said head coach Tracey Griesbaum. “We scored from the field in different ways; first chance scoring opportunities, second chance scoring opportunities. A lot of different people got involved in the action. We displayed better fluidity out of our backfield. Overall, very solid from everyone on the offensive side.”

The Hawkeyes struck early and often, scoring three goals in the first 16 minutes of play. Senior Becca Spengler scored at the 2:59 mark off a pass from Scraper to give Iowa an early 1-0 lead. Moments later, the Black and Gold added to their lead with a goal at the 4:11 mark from Scraper. The sophomore slammed home the second goal of the game off a nice pass from Sarah Drake.

Drake pushed the Hawkeye advantage to 3-0 at the 15:42 mark with a goal off a corner. Iowa led at the half, 3-0.

Kent State scored in the 39th minute of play to cut the Iowa lead to 3-1. The home team responded, scoring the next three goals to take a commanding 6-1 lead. Scraper added her second (39:44) and third (43:50) goals of the game before freshman Dani Hemeon scored her first career goal at the 46:40 mark. Scraper pushed her goal season total to five, equaling her total from a year ago as a freshman.

After Debbie Bell scored two goals for the Golden Flashes to make the score 6-3, sophomore Aubrey Coleman tallied her first career goal at the 69:38 mark to make the final score 7-3.

Iowa returns to action Sunday when it hosts Massachusetts at 1 p.m. at Grant Field. The Hawkeyes will honor the 1986 national championship team and Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Mary Koboldt. Admission is free.