No. 20 Hawkeyes Prepared for Big Ten Tournament

Nov. 5, 2013

Game Notes / Bracket

THIS WEEK
The 20th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team travels to the Big Ten Tournament in Columbus, Ohio this week. The fifth-seeded Hawkeyes open tournament play against No. 4 seed Michigan at 9 a.m. (CT) at Buckeye Varsity Field on Thursday.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Thursday, Nov. 7
#4 Michigan vs. #5 Iowa – 9 a.m.
#2 Northwestern vs. #7 Ohio State – 11:15 a.m.
#3 Michigan State vs. #6 Indiana – 1:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 8 – Semi Finals
#1 Penn State vs. #4 Michigan/#5 Iowa – 9 a.m.
#2 Northwestern/#7 Ohio State vs. #3 Michigan State/#6 Indiana – 11:30 a.m.

Sunday, Nov. 10 – Championship
Semifinal #1 winner vs. Semifinal #2 winner – 11 a.m.

THE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT ON BTN
BTN will provide live coverage of the quarterfinals, semifinals and final of the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament at Ohio State. Live streamed coverage of the quarterfinal round will begin at 9 a.m. (CT) on Thursday, Nov. 7, with the second and third games to follow at approximately 11:15 a.m. (CT) and 1:30 p.m. (CT). Coverage of the semifinal round will begin live at 9 a.m. (CT) on Friday, Nov. 8, with the second game to air on delay at 11 p.m. (CT) that evening on BTN. The championship game will air live on BTN at 11 a.m. (CT) on Sunday, Nov. 10.

HAWKEYES B1G TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Hawkeyes have won three of the last seven Big Ten Tournaments winning three-straight from 2006-2008. Iowa is one of three schools that has claimed at least four championships (1994, 2006, 2007, 2008), joining Penn State and Michigan. Penn State is the only other school to win three-straight titles. Iowa is 27-15 (.643) all-time in conference tournament play, which marks the most tournament wins for any Big Ten School.

Iowa holds a number of Big Ten Tournament records. Anne-Marie Thomas and Vicki Sax are tied for the most goals (4) in one game. Thomas holds the record for most points (9) in one game. As a team, the Hawkeyes hold the mark for most goals in a game (8, against Indiana in 2007) and most goals in a tournament (15, in 2007).

IOWA’S SEEDING HISTORY
Iowa will be the fifth seed for the sixth time in school history at the 2013 Big Ten Tournament. The Hawkeyes hold a 4-4 record when seeded fifth. The last time the Hawkeyes were seeded fifth in the Big Ten Tournament in 2006, Iowa took home the championship. The fifth-seeded Hawkeyes defeated third-seeded Penn State in the championship round, 2-1. Additionally, the last time the Big Ten Tournament was held in Columbus, Ohio (2007), the Hawkeyes were crowned champions, defeating Michigan in the championship round.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN
Michigan finished it’s regular season with a 12-7 overall record, including a 4-2 conference mark. Michigan is lead by former Hawkeye standout Marcia Pankratz. Pankratz is in her 14th season at the helm of the program. On the field, Michigan is lead by Rachel Mack. Mack leads the Big Ten in points with 48 and in goals with 21. Michigan defeated the Hawkeyes in Ann Arbor earlier this season on Oct. 5, 3-2.

IOWA KEEPS ROLLING ON OFFENSE
The Hawkeyes finished the regular season leading the conference in goals scored with 62 and a 3.44 goals per game average. Iowa last led the Big Ten in goals per game in 2004 with a 2.67 goals per game average. Sophomore Natalie Cafone has led the way for the Hawkeyes on offense. Cafone finished the regular season second in the league in points with 45 and second in goals with 19.

SILFER NAMED B1G FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Jessy Silfer was named Big Ten Freshman of the week on Oct. 22, helping anchor an Iowa defense that allowed only two goals in the Hawkeyes’ two victories at Ohio State and Miami (Ohio). Silfer and the Hawkeyes first took down Ohio State (Oct. 18), 3-1, surrendering only eight shots. Next, Iowa defeated Miami (Ohio) (Oct. 20), 3-1, and only allowed seven shots. Iowa won five Player of the Week awards this season.

HEMEON, NORLANDER NAMED B1G PLAYERS OF WEEK
Iowa junior Dani Hemeon and freshman Stephanie Norlander earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively, on Oct. 15. The weekly honor was the first of Hemeon’s career, while it was the second honor for Norlander. She earned Freshman of the Week honors on Sept. 24. Hemeon exploded offensively for the Hawkeyes, scoring four goals in two games, including a hat trick in the 5-1 win against Big Ten foe Indiana (Oct. 11). Hemeon’s hat trick was the first by a Hawkeye since sophomore Natalie Cafone accomplished the feat at Kent State on Sept. 22. Hemeon is second on the team in points with 26, including 11 goals. Norlander was a big part of Iowa’s two victories over the weekend, scoring a goal on three shots. Norlander scored the opening goal against Pacific (Oct. 13), which helped set the tone early. Iowa went on to beat Pacific, 7-2.

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.

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 earned her first career win on Oct. 7 against Missouri State.

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 64 career games and made 59 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 73 career games for the Hawkeyes with 70 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).