MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Four goals by four different Hawkeyes sent the top-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team to a 4-0 victory over Central Michigan on Sunday afternoon at Cristy Freese Field. It was the team’s second straight and 10th shutout of the season.
The Hawkeyes move to 14-0 overall – their best start since 1992 – heading into Friday’s showdown against No. 2 Michigan at Grant Field.
Iowa’s defense held the Chippewas without a single shot for the duration of the contest. The Hawkeyes registered 16 shots with seven being on goal.
Five minutes in, senior Maddy Murphy notched the first goal to put Iowa on the board and in the 23rd minute, junior Esme Gibson found the back of the cage to extend Iowa’s lead to 2-0 before half.
Early in the third quarter, senior Anthe Nijziel kept the momentum going with a strike off a penalty corner with Murphy being credited with the assist. Iowa capped its scoring when senior Lokke Stribos made it 4-0 with a strike off a rebound in the 57th minute.
NOTABLES
- The Hawkeyes improve to 7-0 in road games this season.
- Murphy and Gibson’s goals were their sixth of the season, Stribos’ was her seventh and Nijziel’s was her third.
- Goalkeeper Grace McGuire notched the shutout, her 10th of the season. The Hawkeyes have allowed four or fewer shots on goal in 12 straight games.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action Friday, hosting No. 2 Michigan 2 p.m. (CT) at Grant Field. The game will be televised on BTN.
