Iowa Wins at Northwestern in Big Ten Finale, 5-2

Stats | Boxscore

Oct. 22, 2011

Box Score

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EVANSTON, Ill. — The 11th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team defeated No. 20 Northwestern, 5-2, Saturday at Lakeside Field in its final Big Ten contest of the season. Iowa moves to 12-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play with two regular season non-conference games remaining.

“We executed on three corners and had two great goals from the field,” said head coach Tracey Griesbaum. “Our passing game was strong and it allowed us to keep possession at key points in the end of the game.”

The Hawkeyes struck first. At the 23:19 mark, Jessica Barnett scored from the top of the circle off a pass from sophomore Marike Stribos, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Iowa extended its lead to 2-0 at the 31:55 mark. Sophomore Niki Schultheis scored off a rebound on a penalty corner to give the Black and Gold a two-goal advantage at the half.

The Hawkeye offense kept the pressure on in the second half. Aubrey Coleman scored at the 49:41 mark to make the score 3-0.

Barnett added her second goal of the game moments later. The junior scored on a corner at the 53:27 mark. The goal was assisted by Schultheis and junior Geena Lesiak.

Northwestern (11-7, 1-4) scored two straight goals to cut the Iowa lead to 4-2. The Hawkeyes answered. Kelsey Mitchell scored at the 68:31 mark off a pass from Coleman to make the final score 5-2.

“Jess (Barnett) was awesome on corners,” said Griesbaum. “Niki (Schultheis) and Karli (Johansen) battled hard. Merty (Kathleen McGraw) was great. She had 10 saves and kept us in the game in the first half.”

The Hawkeyes recorded 11 saves as a team. Goalkeeper Kathleen McGraw recorded 10 saves and Barnett added a defensive save. It marks the third-straight game Barnett has tallied a defensive save. In addition, she has scored six goals in the last four games.

Iowa (12-3, 4-2), winner of four-straight overall and three-straight conference games, continues action tomorrow when it plays Pacific in Evanston. The game is scheduled to begin at noon.