25-Year Anniversary – 1996 Big Ten Champions | NCAA Elite Eight

The 2021-22 academic year is the 25-year anniversary of the University of Iowa field hockey team’s 1996 Big Ten regular season title and Elite Eight appearance.  Iowa head coach Lisa Cellucci, who was a first-team All-American goalkeeper on that Hawkeye squad, shared her thoughts on the team and what made it so special.

The 1996 team rolled through the regular season, finishing with one loss and going 10-0 in Big Ten play. What made the 1996 team special?
“We had so much talent and experience. Every line on the field had All-Big Ten and All-Americans in it. Each and every practice was so competitive and at times, so much harder than most games we played. What made it so special was how player-driven it was. The standard was set high and we were always pushing to separate ourselves. We were very connected and had great team chemistry.”

What were some of the highlights/best memories for you during that season?
“Going through the Big Ten season undefeated at 10-0 and winning another Big Ten championship. We were dominant during the Big Ten season and loved every minute of it. We also had so much fun off the field. I fondly remembering executing one of the best mischief night pranks on the coaches with all of my teammates and to this day stands as one of the best pranks in program history. It’s a great story, but its better left untold on this forum.” ☺

That 1996 team was a special team, but how much does that NCAA loss to Princeton still sting to this day?
“That loss will forever stay with me. The 1996 team had all of the pieces to win the National Championship. That was the goal and it was attainable in my opinion. To lose a lead on Grant Field to go to the Final Four was devastating. In the end we were 18-2, Big Ten Champions, and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, so there is so much to be proud of.”