Iowa Prepared for Michigan and Missouri State

Oct. 1, 2013

Weekly Release

THIS WEEK
The 15th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on the 19th-ranked Michigan Wolverines on Friday at noon (CT). The Hawkeyes return home to take on Missouri State on Monday, Oct. 7 at Grant Field. Game time is set for 3 p.m. (CT) and can be seen on the Big Ten Digital Network.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan (5-5, 0-1) enters Saturday’s contest having dropped two of its last three contests. Most recently, the Wolverines fell to No. 12 Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., 4-1. Michigan is led by head coach Marcia Pankratz. Pankratz, a former Hawkeye standout, is in her 14th season at the helm of Wolverine field hockey. On the field, Michigan is led by forward Rachael Mack. Mack, a senior, is first in the Big Ten in points with 22 (9 goals, 4 assists) and also leads the Big Ten in total shots with 65. Iowa is 39-19 all-time against Michigan.

SCOUTING MISSOURI STATE
Missouri State is 1-7 overall. The Bears lone win came on the road in Berkeley, Calif., as the Bears downed Pacific, 3-2. Missouri State is on a six game losing streak. The Bears are led by head coach Gabby Gomez Sosa, who is in her third season at the helm of the program. On the field, the Bears are led by Hillary Lawless who leads the team with four points. Iowa is 24-4-1 all-time against Missouri State.

HAWKEYES FALL TO NO. 12 NORTHWESTERN
The then 14th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team fell to No. 12 Northwestern on Sept. 27 at Lakeside Field, 4-3. The Wildcats jumped out to an early lead when freshman Dominique Masters scored off a corner at the 5:21 minute mark and ten minutes later it was Masters again, scoring off a corner to give Northwestern a two-goal lead. The Hawkeyes opened up the scoring in the second half as Natalie Cafone scored off an assist from Dani Hemeon. Iowa didn’t stop there as roughly 10 minutes later the Hawkeyes scored back-to-back goals in under a minute to take the lead. Dani Hemeon first tied the game scoring off a corner at the 54:38 minute mark and 57 seconds later, Cafone scored her second goal to give the Hawkeyes the lead. Cafone’s second goal marked her ninth goal of the season. The Wildcats battled back in the final minutes to tie the game. After Northwestern pulled their goalie, Masters netted a hat trick with only 1:47 left in the game to send the match into overtime. Isabel Flens of Northwestern scored the game winning goal at the 79 minute mark.

CAFONE NETS HAT TRICK
Sophomore Natalie Cafone netted her first hat trick of the season against Kent State on Sept. 22. The hat trick was the first by a Hawkeye since Aubrey Coleman on Sept. 9, 2012, in a 6-0 victory over Pacific. Cafone also added an assist in the game.

CAFONE NAMED B1G PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Natalie Cafone Was been named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 24. The weekly honor marks the second for the Hawkeyes in as many weeks, and the second accolade of Cafone’s career. The Fairfield, N.J., native earned the accolade after registering a hat trick and an assist in Iowa’s win at Kent State on Sunday.

NORLANDER WINS BIG TEN HONOR
Iowa forward/midfielder Stephanie Norlander was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 17. The honor marked the first of Norlander’s career. The North Vancouver native earned the accolade after a five shot, two-goal performance in Iowa’s 7-1 victory over Central Michigan on Sept. 13. Norlander is the first Hawkeye to earn Freshman of the Week honors since Natalie Cafone on Oct. 23, 2012.

3 HAWKEYES COMPETE IN PAN AMERICAN CUP
Iowa freshman Stephanie Norlander and former Hawkeye All-Americans Jessica Barnett and Meghan Beamesderfer competed in the 2013 Pan American Cup, Sept. 21-28, in Mendoza, Argentina. Norlander and Barnett represent edCanada, while Beamesderfer played for the United States National Team. Beamesderfer earned a silver medal as the United States placed second while Norlander and Barnett received bronze medals for a third place finish with Team Canada. Norlander was the youngest player on Team Canada.

HAWKEYES DANCING AGAIN
Iowa garnered an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season last year, earning back-to-back bids for the first time since 2007-08. The Hawkeyes fell in the first round of the tournament at No. 7 Virginia, 3-2.

HAWKEYES ON BTN
The Big Ten Network will be airing at least two Hawkeye contests this season. Iowa appeared on BTN on Sept. 27 at Northwestern. The Hawkeyes host Penn State, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. (CT) at Grant Field in another BTN game. In addition, home matches against Stanford (9/15), Missouri State (10/7), Indiana (10/11), and Pacific (10/13) can be seen on the Big Ten Digital Network.

IOWA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Hawkeyes were selected to the NCAA Tournament last year for the sixth time in nine years, and for the 22nd time in program history — the most of any school as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Hawkeyes are 26-23 all-time in tournament play, including 9-5 in first round match-ups and 11-6 in second round contests. Iowa has advanced to 11 NCAA Final Fours, winning the 1986 national championship. The Hawkeyes 26 tournament victories and 11 NCAA Final Fours are the most of any school as a member of the Big Ten Conference.

IOWA NEWCOMERS
The Black and Gold feature six freshmen on the 2013 roster. Jessy Silfer and Chanlder Ackers have both see action in the backfield. Ali Campos, Stephanie Norlander, and Sophie Plasteras have contributed to the Hawkeye forward line. Freshman goal keeper Alexandra Pecora rounds out the Hawkeye newcomers.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Hawkeyes will host Indiana and Pacific the weekend of Oct. 11. The Hawkeyes will first take on Indiana on Oct. 11 and Pacific on Oct. 13. A neutral site game between Indiana and Pacific will be played on Oct. 12. All games will be held at Grant Field.

HAWKEYES ON WATCH LIST
Three University of Iowa field hockey players — Karli Johansen, Niki Schultheis, and Marike Stribos — appear on the 2013 Big Ten Field Hockey Players to Watch List.

Johansen, a senior from North Vancouver, Canada, has played in 55 career games and made 50 starts for the Hawkeyes. She was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team as a sophomore and junior. Johansen was selected to the Canadian Women’s National Team in April. Johansen, who served as captain of the Canadian Junior World Cup Team in July, is one of eight Big Ten field hockey standouts also named to the list last season.

Schultheis, a senior from Hamburg, Germany, enters her fourth year as a starter for the Hawkeyes. Schultheis started all 21 games and posted a career-high 10 assists in 2012. The 10 assists marked the second-highest total on the team and ranked 10th in the Big Ten. Schultheis is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member.

Stribos, a senior from Brussels, Belgium, has played in 60 career games for the Hawkeyes with 59 career starts. Last season as a junior, Stribos was named a Longstreth/NFHCA First Team West Region All-American, in addition to being a second team All-Big Ten selection. She is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member.

DR. GRANT SELECTED TO NFHCA HALL OF FAME
Former University of Iowa women’s athletic director Dr. Christine H.B. Grant has been selected to the NFHCA Hall of Fame. Grant joins Virginia head coach Michele Madison, a former Iowa assistant (1982-89), and Ursinus College head coach Laura Moliken in the Class of 2013.

A pioneer in intercollegiate athletics in the United States, Grant became the first women’s athletics director at the University of Iowa in 1973. In her 27 years at the helm of a separate Women’s Athletic Department, Grant helped coaches develop highly competitive teams at the national level and at the conference level where they won 27 Big Ten Conference titles. A native of Scotland, Grant has earned national acclaim for her dedication to gender equity in athletics. She has testified on Title IX and Gender Equity before several U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittees and has served as an expert witness in many Title IX lawsuits. She served as President of both the AIAW and the NACWAA.

She was given an Honorary Doctorate of Humane letters by Luther College and also by the University of Northern Iowa and named one of the 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America by the Institute of International Sport.

Iowa’s home facility — Grant Field — is named in honor of Grant, the founder of Iowa field hockey.

FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
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 and Instagram (@iowafieldhockey).