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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa field hockey team won its home opener, defeating Fairfield, 4-1, Friday afternoon at Grant Field. The Hawkeyes are now 2-1 on the season.
“It was great to get the win,” said UI head coach Lisa Cellucci. “We definitely put some goals on the board, but with the amount of opportunities we had we would’ve liked to be a little more productive and finish. When we did the simple things, and let the ball do the work we executed very well.”
Iowa got on the board first scoring in the 20th minute when junior Mallory Lefkowitz scored her first goal of the season. She beat a defender down the sideline and shot the ball far post to give the Hawkeyes a 1-0 lead.
Freshman Katie Birch scored her first career goal in 22nd minute off of a penalty corner, stretching Iowa’s lead to 2-0. Sophomore Makenna Grewe and junior Melissa Progar were credited with assists after setting up the freshman.
The Hawkeyes stretched their lead to 4-0, courtesy of two Natalie Cafone goals in the second half. The senior forced a turnover in the 41st minute and snuck a shot past the Fairfield goalkeeper to make the score 3-0.
Cafone rounded out Iowa scoring with her second goal in the 62nd minute when she tipped in a Lefkowitz shot, giving Iowa a 4-0 lead. The goals were Cafone’s third and fourth of the season. She has scored in each of the team’s three contests.
Fairfield avoided the shutout, scoring in the game’s 64th minute. The Hawkeyes out-shot the Staggs, 21-9, in the contest. Cafone and Birch combined for 14 of the Hawkeyes shots. Senior goalkeeper Alexandra Pecora made three saves en route to her second win of the season.
Iowa returns to action Sunday, hosting Saint Louis at 1 p.m. (CT) at Grant Field. Admission is free.
