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THE ELITE EIGHT MATCHUP
The sixth-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team (17-4) faces top-ranked and undefeated North Carolina at Karen Shelton Stadium in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday at 12 p.m. (CT) for a trip to the NCAA Final Four.
• The Hawkeyes fell to the Tar Heels, 2-1, in their second game of the season. Iowa held a 1-0 lead after three periods with a goal from freshman Sofie Stribos, but North Carolina scored two goals in the final five minutes to upend the Hawkeyes.
• North Carolina leads the all-time series, 29-3, but the Hawkeyes have played the Tar Heels close in the last two meetings. Iowa fell 2-1 in overtime to North Carolina in 2018.
FOLLOW THE GAME LIVE
• Iowa field hockey fans can follow along via live stats on hawkeyesports.com. Click on the “Live Stats” link found on the field hockey schedule page.
• Fans can also follow @IowaFieldHockey on Twitter for in-game updates.
• The game will be streamed live on YouTube via UNC Athletics.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• Iowa has been to the second round of the NCAA Tournament 17 times in school history.
• The Hawkeyes’ current six-game winning streak is their longest of the season. Five of Iowa’s six wins during the winning streak were against ranked opponents.
• The Hawkeyes are coming off a 3-2 NCAA First Round win over eighth-ranked Duke. Iowa came out strong with a 3-0 halftime lead and closed out the game after Duke pulled its goalkeeper.
• In Iowa’s first round win, sophomore Ciara Smith scored or assisted on every goal, scoring two goals to bump her season total to four. She has scored three postseason goals.
• Head coach Lisa Cellucci and three Hawkeyes (senior Katie Birch, junior Maddy Murphy, & sophomore Anthe Nijziel) earned All-Big Ten honors. Cellucci was named Big Ten Coach of the year, becoming Iowa’s first since 2004. Birch was Iowa’s first unanimous first-team selection since 2016. Murphy was also a first team selection, while Nijziel earned second-team honors.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• The Hawkeyes are 27-24 all-time in NCAA Tournament history. Iowa’s 27 wins are the third most in the Big Ten.
• Iowa has advanced to the Final Four 11 times in school history with its last in 2008. Iowa has four NCAA Championship appearances, including a 1986 National Championship.
B1G CHAMPS X2
The Hawkeyes completed their sweep of the Big Ten regular season title and Big Ten Tournament Championship last Sunday with a 1-0 overtime win over Penn State, becoming the first ever team in Iowa history to do so. Iowa is only the fifth team in Big Ten history to complete the feat.
B1G TOURNAMENT RECAP
• Coming off a Big Ten regular season title, the Hawkeyes were crowned Big Ten Tournament Champions after downing Ohio State, Northwestern, and Penn State. Iowa defeated Penn State 1-0 in overtime in the championship game. Junior Maddy Murphy scored the game-winning goal 23 seconds into overtime.
• It was Iowa’s sixth Big Ten Tournament title and the first time in school history the Hawkeyes have swept the regular season and conference championship.
• Three Hawkeyes — Katie Birch, Sophie Sunderland, and Lokke Stribos — were named to the All-Big Ten Tournament Team. Birch was the Big Ten Tournament MVP.
