No. 11 Iowa Wins at Ball State in Regular Season Finale

Stats | Boxscore

Oct. 28, 2011

Box Score

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MUNCIE, Ind. — The 11th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team defeated Ball State, 5-2, Friday at the BSU Turf Field in its regular season finale. Iowa, winner of six straight, concludes the regular season at 14-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play. The 14 wins are the Hawkeyes’ highest regular season total since the team tallied 14 victories in 2007.

“We started strong and ended strong,” said head coach Tracey Griesbaum. “We struggled to get offensive flow, but we managed to execute well enough to score five goals. Our midfield played awesome today. They eliminated with purpose and helped keep tempo to the game.”

The Hawkeyes struck first just over a minute into play. At the 1:33 mark, senior Becca Spengler chipped in a goal from close to give the visitors an early 1-0 advantage.

The Black and Gold extended their lead to 2-0 at the 7:17 mark. Sophomore Aubrey Coleman scored from ten yards out on an assist from junior Sarah Drake.

The Cardinals scored their first goal at the 12:56 mark to cut the lead to 2-1.

At the 29:49 mark, Iowa answered. Jessica Barnett scored on a corner off a pass from sophomore Marike Stribos to make the score 3-1 at the half.

Two minutes into the second half, Ball State tallied its second goal of the contest to make the score 3-2.

The Hawkeyes responded again. Barnett notched her second goal of the game at the 56:36 mark to extend the lead to 4-2. Sophomore Niki Schultheis was credited with the assist.

Barnett shut the door on the Cardinals at the 67:14 mark. The junior scored her third goal of the game, and her ninth during Iowa’s six-game win streak, to make the final score 5-2.

Goalkeeper Kathleen McGraw recorded five saves to lead the defense.

Iowa dominated possession throughout. Ball State (4-14) tallied seven shots and three penalty corners, while the Hawkeyes registered 28 shots and 16 penalty corners.

Iowa (14-3, 4-2) opens play at the Big Ten Tournament next Thursday on the campus of Penn State University in University Park, Pa. The Hawkeyes’ opponent and seed will be determined Sunday at the conclusion of regular season conference play. Iowa has won three of the last five Big Ten Tournaments.