Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch – 2017-18 | Week 3 Notes
THIS WEEK
The 17th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team returns to Grant Field this weekend, taking on New Hampshire at 6 p.m. (CT) on Friday and at noon on Sunday. Admission is free.
PROMOTIONS
• Friday is Fight For Iowa night. Fans are encouraged to stay for fireworks following the match
• Sunday’s match is “Grant Goes Gold”. Fans are encouraged to wear gold for the match.
FOLLOW ON THE WEB
Iowa field hockey fans can follow all contests via live stats on hawkeyesports.com. Click on the “Live Stats” link found on the field hockey schedule page to access the live stats feed. Fans can also follow @IowaFieldHockey on Twitter for live in-game updates.
SCOUTING NEW HAMPSHIRE
• New Hampshire is off to a 2-1 start this season. The Wildcats have wins over Northeastern (5-4) and Hofstra (3-1).
• Junior Katie Audino leads the Wildcats in goals (2), assists (2) and points (6).
• Junior goalkeeper Kelsey Rudert has a 2-1 record this season with a 1.95 goals against average, nine saves, and 0.643 save percentage.
• Freshman Bloem van den Brekel was the America East Rookie of the Week on Aug. 29. The freshman has three points on the season, one goal and one assist.
IOWA VS. NEW HAMPSHIRE — THE SERIES
• Iowa leads the all-time series, 11-1-1.
• The Hawkeyes are undefeated when playing the Wildcats at Grant Field.
• The teams last met in 2004. Iowa won the match, 5-0, at Grant Field.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
The Hawkeyes remained No. 17 in this week’s NFHCA National Rankings (Sept. 5) . Iowa has already faced three ranked opponents this season. The Hawkeyes suffered losses to No. 15 Wake Forest (2-3), No. 1 North Carolina (0-2) and No. 13 Stanford (2-3). Iowa will face seven more ranked opponents in 2017, six of which are members of the Big Ten. They include: No. 1 Duke, No. 3 Penn State, No. 7 Michigan, No. 11 Maryland, No. 14 Northwestern, No. 22 Rutgers, and No. 23 Ohio State.
WEEKEND RECAP
• The No. 17 Hawkeyes went 2-1 on their west coast road trip last weekend, defeating California and UC Davis. Iowa is now 2-3 on the season.
• The Hawkeyes got on the scoreboard first against No. 13 Stanford, but came up short, falling to the Cardinals, 3-2. Senior Mallory Lefkowitz and freshman Madeleine Murphy recorded goals for the Hawkeyes.
• Senior goalkeeper Katie Jones and the Hawkeyes got their first wins of the season when they blanked California, 3-0 on Sunday. Jones made a career-high seven saves for her second career shutout and first of the season. Murphy, sophomore Katie Birch, and sophomore Isabella Solaroli each scored for the Hawkeyes.
• Jones recorded her third career shutout the very next day against UC Davis as Iowa blanked the Mustangs, 4-0. Murphy and freshman Lizzy Cimilluca each scored a goal in the victory, while Birch found the back of the cage twice.
SHARING THE WEALTH
• Eight Hawkeyes got on the scoresheet during last weekend’s road trip, including three freshmen. Madeleine Murphy recorded her first career goal against No. 13 Stanford and added two more goals and an assist over the weekend.
• Ellie Holley tallied her first career assist while Lizzy Cimilluca found the back of the cage for the first time in her Hawkeye career against UC Davis.
• Senior Mallory Lefokwitz, juniors Makenna Grewe and Melissa Progar, and sophomores Isabella Solaroli and Katie Birch all got on the scoresheet last weekend.
BACK-TO-BACK-SHUTOUTS FOR JONES
Senior goalkeeper Katie Jones recorded back-to-back shutouts last weekend, blanking California, 3-0, and UC Davis, 4-0. The last time the Hawkeyes recorded two shutouts in a row was last season when they held Saint Louis, Monmouth, and Kent State scoreless. Jones combined with Alexandra Pecora to shutout Saint Louis, 11-0, and Central Michigan, 11-0, last season.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING — Indvidual Stats
• Sophomore Katie Birch, the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, currently leads the Hawkeyes in goals (5), points (10), and shots (20). Birch has played every minute of every game so far this season. The sophomore is second in the Big Ten in goals (5) and 11th in the nation in goals per game (1.00).
• Freshman Madeleine Murphy recorded seven points last weekend and is second on the team in goals (3), points (7), and shots (8). Murphy is tied for fourth in goals in the Big Ten.
• Senior goalkeeper Katie Jones recorded 12 saves last weekend and two shutouts. Jones is only one shutout away from tying the 2016 mark, and leads the Big Ten in shutouts.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING — Team Stats
• The Hawkeyes are ranked fourth in the Big Ten in goals (11) and points (31).
• Iowa’s nine assists is the third-highest mark in the Big Ten.
B1G PRESEASON HONOREES
• Katie Birch, Mallory Lefkowitz, and Melissa Progar earned preseason All-Big Ten recognition.
• Birch, a sophomore midfielder, started all 19 games in 2016. She recorded 12 goals and four assists for 28 points for the Hawkeyes in her freshman campaign — the second most on the team. The York, England, native earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last season and was named Freshman of the Year by the league office.
• Lefkowitz, a senior forward started all 19 games last season. She registered one goal and three assists for five points. The Kingston, Pennsylvania, native earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2016 for the second consecutive year.
• Progar, a senior midfielder, who earned preseason All-Big Ten recognition in 2016, started all 19 games last season. She recorded a team-high 12 assists (second in the Big Ten). The Yorktown, Virginia, native earned Academic All-Big Ten and NFHCA Academic honors in 2016.
5 HAWKEYES SELECTED FOR YOUN WOMEN’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
• Seniors Mallory Lefkowtiz, Melissa Progar, Taylor Omweg, and Katie Jones, and junior Makenna Grewe were selected to compete at the 2017 Young Women’s National Championships from June 12-16.
• The Young Women’s National Championship is a high-level, international structured competition that serves as the selection avenue to the Junior National Camps and the Development Squad Camp.
IOWA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Hawkeyes have been selected to the NCAA Tournament 22 times 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.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Hawkeyes start a four-match road trip next weekend as they face No. 3 Penn State at 5 P.M. on Friday in University Park, Pennslyvania, and Penn on Sunday at noon in Philadelphia.
