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EAST LANSING, Mich. — After a scoreless first half, the 13th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team shut out Michigan State in a 4-0 victory on Friday afternoon. The Hawkeyes improve to 9-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In a first half dominated by Iowa, the score remained tied at zero at halftime. The Hawkeyes recorded six shots with five on goal, but Michigan State’s goalkeeper Jade Arundell, who leads the Big Ten in saves, saved all five. Junior midfielder Katie Birch registered three shots on goal, while Leah Zellner and Ryley Miller each added a shot on goal. Iowa recorded four penalty corners in the half to Michigan State’s zero.
The Hawkeyes stayed on the offensive in the second half, finding the back of the net in the 41st minute. It was sophomore Ellie Holley who put Iowa up 1-0 on a rebound goal off a penalty corner attempt. Iowa then rattled off two more goals in a three-minute stretch. Junior Sophie Sunderland was credited with Iowa’s second goal when she redirected Makenna Grewe‘s shot from the top of the circle. Sophomore Maddy Murphy scored her ninth goal of the season in the 47th minute off a penalty corner. Junior Katie Birch was credited with her seventh assist of the season.
Moments later Iowa converted on its third straight penalty corner. This time, freshman Anthe Nijziel scored from the left side just inside the circle on a pass from Grewe for her second assist of the game. Iowa registered seven shots in the second half, while allowing no Michigan State shots all game.
QUOTING COACH CELLUCCI
“We told the team at halftime to keep chipping away and to continue to attack. We needed to clean up how we were framing the goal and once we did that, we had cleaner looks. Our corner execution was much better in the second half.”
HAWKEYE NOTABLES
- Junior goalkeeper Leslie Speight registered her sixth shutout of the season as Iowa allowed no shots or penalty corners in the game. It was the third time this season Iowa has allowed zero penalty corners in a game. Speight’s goals against average dropped to 0.63.
- Iowa converted on three of four penalty corners in the second half.
- The Hawkeyes outshot the Spartans 13-0 with 12 shots on goal.
- Iowa is 7-0 against unranked opponents and have outscored them 26-1.
- All four of Iowa’s goals were assisted on. Makenna Grewe recorded two assists today to boost her season total to three. Katie Birch recorded her team-leading seventh assist, while Maddy Murphy recorded her fifth assist of the season.
- Sophomore Ellie Holley scored her first goal of the season. She became the 11th Hawkeye to score a goal this season.
- Freshman Anthe Nijziel recorded her fourth goal of the season.
UP NEXT
Iowa finishes its four-game road trip on Sunday at 11 a.m (CT) against No. 23 Ohio State. The game will be streamed live on BTN Plus.
