11th-Ranked Hawkeyes Top Indiana at Big Ten Tournament

Stats | Boxscore

Nov. 3, 2011

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The 11th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team defeated Indiana, 3-2, Thursday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Iowa, winner of seven straight, is 15-3 overall (4-2 in Big Ten play). The 15 wins are the Hawkeyes’ highest season total since the team tallied 18 victories in 2008. The match was held at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex on the campus of Penn State.

“We got off to a good start,” said head coach Tracey Griesbaum. “They brought a lot of defensive pressure. It was a battle. We feel really good about the result.”

Iowa, the No. 4 seed, struck first, just 74 seconds into play. Sophomore Kelsey Mitchell scored on a breakaway to give the Hawkeyes the early 1-0 advantage. Freshman Corinne Allen was credited with the assist.

Jessica Barnett continued her stellar play with a goal at the 8:47 mark, extending the Iowa lead to 2-0. Sophomore Marike Stribos was credited with an assist, as she found Barnett at the top right corner of the circle. Barnett then notched the Hawkeyes’ second score as she fired to the left corner of the goal.

Indiana (9-8, 2-4), the No. 5 seed, answered with a goal at the 15:32 mark to cut the Iowa lead to 2-1. That would remain the score at the half.

Barnett tallied her second goal of the game at the 39:23 mark to push the Iowa advantage to 3-1. The junior has tallied all 11 of her goals on the season during the Hawkeyes’ current seven game win streak. She has recorded at least one goal in six of the games and multiple goals in four of the contests.

Indiana scored a late goal at the 60:06 mark to make the final score 3-2 in favor of Iowa. The Hawkeyes are 3-0 all-time against Indiana in the conference tournament, with all matches coming in the first round. Iowa defeated Indiana in 2007 (8-2) and in 2008 (5-2). The Hawkeyes went on to win both of those tournaments.

Goalkeeper Kathleen McGraw recorded eight saves to lead the defense.

Iowa (15-3, 4-2), winner of three of the last five conference tournaments, advances to play top-seeded, and seventh-ranked, Michigan Friday at 9 a.m. (CT). The semifinals will be televised by BTN.

“Michigan will be a challenge,” said Griesbaum. “They have great momentum. We will have to control the tempo. The team is really excited for this opportunity.”