Nov. 10, 2011
- 2011 Media Guide
- 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
BETHESDA, Md. — The University of Iowa field hockey team traveled to Bethesda, Md., Thursday for its conference-leading 21st NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes flew into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport just south of Washington, D.C. before enjoying a team dinner.
Iowa, winner of seven of its last eight games, will practice Friday at 2:30 p.m. local time at the Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex in College Park, Md.
Iowa (15-4), ranked 12th nationally, will face No. 4 Maryland (15-4) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday on the Terrapins’ home turf. The match is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. (CT).
No. 3 Syracuse (18-3) and Richmond (16-6) will also play in College Park on Saturday. The winner of both contests will play Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT) to advance to the Final Four.
Iowa has enjoyed great success in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes have now appeared in the NCAA Tournament 21 times, reaching 11 Final Fours (both are the most of any Big Ten program). In addition, Iowa won the 1986 National Championship. The Hawkeyes are 26-21 all-time in the tournament, owning the most wins of any league team in NCAA Tournament play. Iowa has appeared in the NCAA Tournament five of the last eight years.
In their last tournament appearance in 2008, the Hawkeyes reached the NCAA Final Four after defeating Louisville and Michigan State in the first and second rounds. Iowa lost to Maryland in the NCAA semifinals in double overtime. Louisville will host the NCAA Final Four this year. The last time Louisville hosted the Final Four was 2008.