Griesbaum Goes for Win No. 150 Sunday

Griesbaum Goes for Win No. 150 Sunday

Sept. 26, 2012

Complete Release in PDF Format

THIS WEEK
The 11th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team hosts No. 18 Ohio State on Sunday at Grant Field, beginning at noon (CT). Admission is free.

ON THE NET
Iowa field hockey fans can watch Iowa and Ohio State on BTN.com, where the game will be streamed live. Fans can also follow the Hawkeyes with live stats (Gametracker) on hawkeyesports.com. Click on the “Gametracker” link found on both the front page and the field hockey schedule page

WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Sunday is club sports day at Grant Field. The highest participating UI club sport team will receive a $200 gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings. The first 50 fans will receive free t-shirts, while all fans will be able to pick up free posters, schedule cards, and Iowa field hockey window clings. In addition, fans will have a chance to win a pair of 2012 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament tickets courtesy of the UI marketing department. Iowa field hockey t-shirts will be thrown into the crowd during every home game this season whenever the Hawkeyes have a penalty corner and/or score a goal.

SCOUTING OHIO STATE
No. 18 Ohio State enters the weekend with a 7-3 (1-0 Big Ten) record. The Buckeyes have won five straight, including a 3-2 upset victory over No. 10 Northwestern in their Big Ten opener. Senior Danica Deckard leads the team in goals (10) and points (23), marks that are third and fourth in the Big Ten. Junior Emma Voelker has played every minute in goal for Ohio State this season, ranking second in the Big Ten in shutouts (3) and third in saves per game (4.10). The Buckeyes host Robert Morris on Wednesday before traveling to Iowa City.

GRIESBAUM GOES FOR 150
With a win over Ohio State, head coach Tracey Griesbaum would become the third Hawkeye coach to win 150 games at Iowa. Griesbaum would join Beth Beglin (199 career wins) and Judith Davidson (185 career wins) in the 150-win club. Griesbaum owns a 149-94 record at Iowa, and a 162-115 career record.

COMING IN HOT
The Hawkeyes have won their last five games. Three of the five wins have been shutouts, while two came against ranked opponents — No. 20 Albany (2-1, Sept. 16) and No. 15 Michigan State (1-0, Sept. 21). Iowa is 6-1 during the month of September.

HAWKEYES VS. BUCKEYES ALL-TIME
Iowa is 42-13 all-time against Ohio State. The Hawkeyes shutout the Buckeyes, 3-0, last season in Columbus, Ohio. Iowa owns a 15-3 home record against Ohio State. The Hawkeyes last defeated the Buckeyes in Iowa City on Oct. 9, 2004 (2-0).

IOWA AT GRANT FIELD
The Hawkeyes are 2-0 at Grant Field this season, scoring wins against Missouri State (10-0) and No. 20 Albany (2-1). The Hawkeyes are 135-42 all-time in games played in Iowa City.

PENN MONTO/NFHCA RANKINGS
The Hawkeyes jumped two spots in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association rankings Sept. 25. Iowa received 422 points in the poll, ranking 11th. Five Big Ten teams where tabbed in the poll — Penn State (6), Northwestern (10), Michigan (17), Ohio State (18), Michigan State (22). Eleven Hawkeyes opponents appeared in the poll, including second-ranked North Carolina.

NCAA FIELD HOCKEY RPI RANKINGS
Iowa was tabbed 18th in the first NCAA field hockey RPI ranking Sept. 17. Five Big Ten teams were ranked in the top-25 — Penn State (6), Northwestern (12), Michigan State (14), Michigan (21), Indiana (25). Ten Iowa opponents were ranked with a top-25 RPI. North Carolina, ranked fourth, received the highest ranking of any Iowa opponent.

LAST TIME OUT
Iowa posted two victories in the state of Michigan. The Hawkeyes shutout Michigan State, 1-0, at Ralph Young Field in their Big Ten opener before defeating Central Michigan, 4-1, at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.

BARNETT BAGS B1G HONOR
Senior Jessica Barnett was tabbed as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 25. The Hawkeyes earned the distinction for the third consecutive week. The last time Iowa won three straight Defensive Player of the Week honors was in 2008, as assistant coach Meghan Beamesderfer (Sept. 22), Roz Ellis (Sept. 29), and Lauren Pfeiffer (Oct. 6) received the award in consecutive weeks.

Barnett earned her first career Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolade after leading Iowa’s defensive effort in road victories over No. 15 Michigan State (1-0) and Central Michigan (4-1). The Hawkeye back line allowed only 12 shots in the two games. The honor is the fourth of Barnett’s Hawkeye career. Last season, the Vancouver, Canada, native was a three-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, earning the distinction on Oct. 11, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1.

MCGRAW EARNS BACK-TO-BACK B1G HONORS
Senior goalkeeper Kathleen McGraw was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in consecutive weeks Sept. 11 and Sept. 18. McGraw was the first Hawkeye to earn the conference award in back-to-back weeks since Jessica Barnett, who accomplished the feat last season (Oct. 11, Oct. 18). Goalkeeper Barb Weinberg was the last Hawkeye to win back-to-back Defensive Player of the Week awards, winning the weekly honor in consecutive weeks on Oct. 11, 2004 and Oct. 18, 2004.

McGraw earned her first accolade after posting a pair of shutouts during the team’s West Coast swing Sept. 7-10. McGraw finished the weekend with 10 saves, a 1.29 goals against average and a .769 save percentage. The Atherton, Calif., native received the honor a second time Sept. 18 after leading the Hawkeyes to a 2-1 victory over No. 20 Albany on Sept. 16 at Grant Field. McGraw made eight saves and had a .889 save percentage against an aggressive Great Dane offensive attack that had 15 shots and 11 penalty corners. McGraw has received the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolade three times in her career.

JOHANSEN RETURNS
Junior Karli Johansen returns to the Hawkeyes lineup Sunday after missing Iowa’s last five games to play for Canadian Junior National Team in the 2012 Pan American Junior Championship. Johansen and Canada placed second at the tournament, qualifying for the 2013 Junior World Cup.

MCGRAW APPROACHING ELITE COMPANY
Senior Kathleen McGraw has made 282 career stops for the Hawkeyes, ranking sixth all-time in program history. McGraw is 10 saves away from passing Lissa Munley (292 career saves) for fifth all-time. Associate head coach Lisa Cellucci holds the career saves record with 592 stops.

NOTHING GETS PAST MCGRAW
Senior Kathleen McGraw paces the Big Ten in shutouts (4) and shutouts per game (0.44). McGraw has played every minute of the Hawkeyes nine games, shutting out Missouri State (10-0), Pacific (6-0) and UC Davis (3-0), and No. 15 Michigan State (1-0). McGraw has posted a 1.31 goals against average, ranking second in the Big Ten and 12th nationally. The Atherton, Calif., native boasts a .739 save percentage, ranking fourth in the conference and 24th nationally. McGraw has posted 14 shutouts in 63 career games.

THREE SHARE TEAM-LEAD
Senior Jessica Barnett, junior Kelsey Mitchell, and sophomore Dani Hemeon share the team-lead with five goals. Three of Barnett’s five goals have been game-winning goals, the third-most in the Big Ten. All three individuals have had one multi-goal game this season. Mitchell paces the Hawkeyes with 12 points (5 goals, 2 assists).

LESIAK WITH THE ASSIST
Senior Geena Lesiak is third in the Big Ten is assists (6) and assists per game (0.67). Three of Lesiak’s assists came against Missouri State on Sept. 2. The three assists in one game are the most by a Big Ten athlete this season, and the second-most in NCAA Division I field hockey.

IOWA DEFENSE AMONG THE BEST
The Hawkeye defense is among the best in the Big Ten. Iowa ranks first in the league and third nationally in shutouts per game (0.44). The Hawkeyes also pace the conference in goals allowed (12). Iowa is second in the Big Ten in goals against average (1.13), goals allowed per game (1.33), and defensive saves (4)

HAWKEYE OFFENSE AT A GLANCE
Iowa owns a 3.38 scoring average this season, ranking third in the Big Ten and 11th nationally. The Hawkeyes have posted a 2.07 scoring margin, placing them third in the conference and ninth nationally. The Iowa offense ranks in the top-three in the Big Ten five other statistical categories — shots (second, 177), shots per game (third, 19.67), goals scored (third, 31), goals scored per game (third, 3.44), and penalty corners (second, 79)

HAWKEYES SET TEAM HIGHS
The Hawkeyes have set the team high totals in goals and shots for the Big Ten this season. Iowa set a team-high in goals (10) Sept. 2 against Missouri State. The 10 goals are the second highest total in the NCAA this season. Iowa fired 44 shots against Pacific on Sept. 9, the most by any team in the conference this season. In addition, the Hawkeyes are the only team in the Big Ten to hold an opponent without a shot for an entire game this season, as Missouri State did not attempt a shot against Iowa on Sept. 2.

COLEMAN NOTCHES HAT TRICK
Junior Aubrey Coleman tallied a hat trick in the Hawkeyes’ 6-0 victory over Pacific on Sept. 9. All three goals were unassisted, as Coleman scored during the 16th, 50th, and 53rd minutes. It was the first hat trick of Coleman’s Iowa career. It was the Hawkeyes first hat trick since Jessica Barnett scored three goals in a 5-2 win against Ball State on Oct. 28, 2011.

MITCHELL, HEMEON SCORE TWO
Junior Kelsey Mitchell and sophomore Dani Hemeon have both registered the first multi-goal of their Hawkeye careers this season. Mitchell scored two goals against No. 20 Albany on Sept. 16, finding the goal at the 3:26 mark and the 37:40 mark. Hemeon scored twice Sept. 10 against UC Davis. Both goals were scored via penalty corners, with the first coming at the 5:39 mark and the second at the 53:00 mark

CAFONE GETS ON THE BOARD
Freshman Natalie Cafone scored the first two goals of her Hawkeye career against Missouri State on Sept. 2. Her first collegiate goal came at the 20:45 mark of the first half via a Geena Lesiak assist. Cafone added her second goal at the 40:20 mark.

TEAM CAPTAINS
Seniors Jessica Barnett and Kathleen McGraw will serve as team captains for the Hawkeyes in 2012. Barnett and McGraw were both team captains in 2011.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
? The Hawkeyes have 21 student-athletes on their roster; five freshmen, five sophomores, five juniors and six seniors.
? Iowa returns 15 letterwinners, including nine starters. Four of the nine starters are seniors (Jessica Barnett, Sarah Drake, Geena Lesiak, Kathleen McGraw). All four will become fourth-year starters in 2012.
? Offensively, Iowa returns nine of the 11 players that netted a goal in 2011. The nine returnees accounted for 64 percent of the team’s goals (42-of-66) and 68 percent of the team’s points (114-of-167).
? Seven Hawkeyes hail from New Jersey, four from Pennsylvania, two from California and Canada, and one from Belgium, Delaware, Germany, Maryland, Michigan, and Virginia.
? Five members of the Iowa roster were also teammates in high school. Corinne Allen, Geena Lesiak and Kelsey Mitchell all played at Eastern Regional High School in New Jersey, while Jessica Barnett and Karli Johansen competed for Handsworth Secondary School in North Vancouver, Canada.

TCHOU INDUCTED INTO HOF
Former Hawkeye Liz Tchou officially became a member of the National Iowa Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 14. She was joined by four other former Iowa athletes in the 2012 class, the 24th class to be inducted. Tchou was honored at halftime of Iowa’s game against Albany on Sept. 16. Tchou was also recognized at halftime of Iowa’s football game against Northern Iowa on Sept. 15.

Tchou was a standout at Iowa from 1984-1987, becoming the first female in Iowa history to have her number retired. Tchou led the Hawkeyes to the 1986 National Championship, as she paced Iowa with 15 goals. She was a first team All-American in 1987 after leading the team in goals (30) and points (65). Tchou scored 75 career goals, a mark that still stands fifth in the Iowa record books. She was a four-time All-Big Ten first team selection, twice being named Big Ten Conference MVP. Tchou was also a two-time Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient at Iowa. Following her Hawkeye career, she played for the U.S. Women’s National Team from 1989-95 and was a member of the 1996 Olympic Team. She is currently the Youth Development Manager for U.S.A. Field Hockey.

HAWKEYES TO HOST BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Iowa will host the Big Ten Tournament at Grant Field in 2012. The tournament will begin with first round play on Nov. 1, followed by semifinal action on Nov. 2 and the championship game on Nov. 4. The Hawkeyes will host the conference tournament at Grant Field for a third time in 2012. Iowa City previously hosted the event in 1997 and 2005.

THE HAWKEYES ON BTN
Six University of Iowa field hockey regular season contests will be available via live coverage during the 2012 season. Two Hawkeye games will be televised on the BTN, while four contests will be streamed on BTN.com. All seven games at the 2012 Big Ten Tournament at Grant Field will also feature live coverage. Iowa hosts the tournament Nov. 1-4. Below is a complete list of the Iowa broadcast schedule:

2012 Iowa Live Coverage Schedule
? Sept. 16 – vs. Albany (BTN.com)
? Sept. 30 – vs. Ohio State (BTN.com)
? Oct. 5 – at Indiana (BTN)
? Oct. 21 – vs. Ball State (BTN.com)
? Oct. 26 – vs. Michigan (BTN)
? Oct. 28 – vs. Northwestern (BTN.com)
2012 Big Ten Tournament (Iowa City, Iowa)
? Nov. 1 – First Round – 3 Games (BTN.com)
? Nov. 2 – Semifinals (BTN)
? Nov. 4 – Championship (BTN)

NO SUMMER BREAK
Eight Hawkeyes competed nationally or internationally this summer. Five of the eight competed on the Midwest Senior High Performance Team. UI head coach Tracey Griesbaum served as an assistant coach for the squad. Assistant coach Meghan Beamesderfer also played on the team and was selected to the National Developmental Team. Listed below are Iowa student-athletes that competed this summer:

Canadian National Team
? Jessica Barnett
? Karli Johansen
Midwest Senior High Performance Team
? Aubrey Coleman
? Sarah Drake
? Geena Lesiak
? Kathleen McGraw
? Danielle Peirson
California High Performance Team
? Dani Hemeon
National Developmental Team selections
? Dani Hemeon
? Kathleen McGraw

FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
Become fans of the official Iowa Field Hockey fan page by going to facebook.com/iowafieldhockey to follow the Hawkeyes on Facebook. Fans can also follow the Black and Gold on Twitter at twitter.com/iowafieldhockey.

UP NEXT
Iowa hits the road for a pair of games next weekend. The Hawkeyes play at Indiana on Oct. 5. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network, starting at 2 p.m. (CT). Iowa concludes the trip with a noon (CT) match-up with No. 25 Louisville on Oct. 7.