No. 1 Iowa Shuts Out Michigan State, 5-0

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Junior Esme Gibson notched her first career multi goal game and the top-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team posted its ninth shutout in a 5-0 victory at Michigan State on Friday afternoon at Ralph Young Field.

The Hawkeyes move to 13-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten – their best start since 1992.

The Great Wall of Iowa held the Spartans to a single shot in the game. Offensively, Iowa finished with 16 shots on goal and 29 total shots, forcing Michigan State to make 11 saves on the day.

Gibson drove to the cage and scored Iowa’s first goal – her fourth of the season – in the fifth minute with senior Ellie Holley being credited with the assist.  Iowa doubled its lead in the 23rd minute when senior Anthe Nijziel scored off the team’s fifth corner to make it 2-0 before half. Freshman Annika Herbine tallied the assist.

Coming out of the half, Gibson pushed the lead to 3-0 with a 35th minute goal – an unassisted strike – and three minutes later, senior Lokke Stribos notched the team’s fourth goal off a penalty corner. Sophomore Alex Wesneski joined the scoring party late in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.

NOTABLES

  • Two of Iowa’s goals were scored off penalty corners, they were the team’s 15th and 16th such goals this season.
  • Gibson is the fourth player this season to tally a multi-goal game. (Holley, 2; Sofie Stribos)
  • This is Iowa’s fourth game scoring five or more goals this season.
  • Iowa’s defense tallied its ninth shutout. The Hawkeyes have allowed four or fewer shots on goal in 11 consecutive games.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes return to action Sunday, traveling to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to take on Central Michigan 11 a.m. (CT) at Cristy Freese Field.