Oct. 26, 2012
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Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The writing on the wall is clear. Two wins can propel the University of Iowa field hockey team to at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title.
With the enormity of the weekend looming, UI head coach Tracey Griesbaum’s message isn’t wavering, and she is posing the same questions to her team.
“How can we be better in the moment?” she said. “How can we keep building?”
The Hawkeyes open the final weekend of the regular season by facing No. 14 Michigan today at 2 p.m. (CT) at Grant Field. On Sunday, Iowa hosts eighth-ranked Northwestern at noon on Senior Day.
The Hawkeyes are currently in third place in the Big Ten standings with a 3-1 record, one half game behind Penn State and Northwestern, who sit atop the conference with 4-1 records. The Nittany Lions close out their season at Michigan State on Saturday.
“We handed the team our schedule in the spring, so they have known all along that this weekend was a double Big Ten weekend, and it was going to have implications,” said Griesbaum. “We’ve talked about it on and off the last couple of weeks. We know we have to seize the opportunity.”
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“They’ve been through seasons that have been very successful and seasons that haven’t, but they have been true to their word, consistent and hard-working. It is a class I have a lot of pride in and trust. I want them to be able to make their mark during their final year.”
UI head coach Tracey Griesbaum on the senior class
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The Hawkeyes know the championship talk is all for naught if the team doesn’t take care of the task at hand today against Michigan. The Wolverines bring a four-game winning streak to Iowa City to improve its record to 11-5 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play. Michigan’s Big Ten losses came against Penn State (4-3) and Northwestern (4-1).
“Michigan is a team that is playing well, they’re peaking at the right time,” said Griesbaum. “They are a young team that has come together.”
The Hawkeyes have to capitalize on their scoring opportunities and find a way to slow down Michigan’s Rachael Mack if they’re to come out victorious. The forward leads a Wolverine offensive attack that averages three goals per game, tallying 17 goals and seven assists for 41 points in 2012.
“We have to play our game,” said Griesbaum. “We’re going to have to execute on both sides of the ball, and at a high rate on our penalty corners.”
Sunday’s regular season finale against Northwestern is Senior Day, giving the program an opportunity to recognize the six members of the senior class.
“This group came in as freshmen the year after we had one of the better years in program history,” said Griesbaum. “They knew right away they were going to be called upon to step in and help this team, and they’ve done just that.
“They’ve been through seasons that have been very successful and seasons that haven’t, but they have been true to their word, consistent and hard-working. It is a class I have a lot of pride in and trust. I want them to be able to make their mark during their final year.”
One way to make their mark would be to win two games and help guide the Hawkeyes to a share of their first regular season title since 2004.
That’s the furthest thing from Griesbaum’s mind.
“Maybe after the Michigan game we’ll have something to talk about,” she said.
The Hawkeyes are trying to be better in the moment.