35-Year Anniversary – 1986 NCAA Champions

The 2021-22 academic year is the 35-year anniversary of the University of Iowa field hockey team’s 1986 National Championship.  Liz Tchou, an Iowa Hall of Famer and a member of that 1986 squad, shared her thoughts on the team and what made it so special.

What’s the thing that stands out to you most about the 1986 team?
“The chemistry of the 1986 team was unbelievably strong. I was a junior when head coach Judith Davidson and assistant coach Michele Madison brought in a large freshmen class of eight. They added an incredibly fun and competitive spirit to an already outstanding team. The team chemistry consisted not only of strong players, but also a magical mix of big and unique personalities. I remember many days when coaches and players would cry with laughter on and off the field. In many ways, this eased the pressure and heightened the camaraderie. There was zero pressure because we were such a young team and there were no superstars, so everyone had to pull their own weight.

“In 1985, we endured a heartbreaking loss in strokes to Northwestern in the regional final. It was devastating because we felt we had the strongest team, with five All-America senior leaders. We called them the “Fab Five”. Two went on to become Olympians (Marcia Pankratz and Mary Koboldt), one joined the US Women’s National Team (Deb Brickey) and the other two were outstanding players (Kim Hermann and Joan Behrens). While we thought no one would be able to take their place, the eight freshmen stepped in and made an immediate impact, helping us win the 1986 championship.

“How tight knit the parents were that year and every year I was part of the Iowa program. Junior goalkeeper Karen Napolitano’s parents drove out from Long Island, New York. My parents, John and Anna, drove halfway across the country from New Jersey to Iowa with freshman Erica Richards’s parents, Harry and Peggy, numerous times. This was a 17-hour drive, when the legal driving limit was 55 miles per hour, which impressed everyone! These parents and many others traveled from far distances and attended most of the games during that championship season, which definitely helped bolster the team.”

Describe the feeling of winning that game against New Hampshire and bringing the NCAA title back to Iowa City?
“The 1986 National Championship game itself was a rollercoaster ride. Toward the end of the first overtime with the game tied 1-1, we were in the circle and Michele Murgatroyd took a shot on goal. We thought we scored and won, and we were going nuts, but the umpire had blown her whistle before the ball crossed over the line and called a corner. Obviously, this was before video review! I will never forget the overtime huddle. Judith brought us in close and made eye contact with each one of us. “You just won the National Championship, now you have to go out and win it again!”

“Well, that’s all we needed. We set up a corner for Patti Wanner, who lifted the ball over the goalkeeper, scoring the goal to give us and Iowa our first NCAA Championship in field hockey! The feeling was elation, pride, and humility. It was a win for the entire program, for the current and past players, all the Hawkeyes who wore the black and gold.”

What made this team so special?
“After graduating such a strong class of leaders and players in 1985, the next class had to step up to the challenge and we did. Senior leadership was strong with Rosanna Salcido and Patti Wanner. The junior class, my classmates, included two incredible players and leaders in Karen Napolitano (All-America goalkeeper) and Deb Robertson (All-America defender). The intense feeling of losing in 1985 drove us to work harder. There was no question that we were united, sharing the same goal of winning it all. Every player, staff and support member played their part.

“In the back of our minds, we knew we were so fortunate to have the tools and resources that we had, and we knew to never take this for granted. We had Dr. Christine Grant, one of the only female athletic directors in the country at the time, supporting and advocating for us and other women’s sports programs. She frequently met with our team, watched practices, and emphasized how we were strong women, who could overcome any challenge. The Iowa administration fought for our right to compete during a time when women’s sports simply did not get the recognition that it deserved.

“There wasn’t any coach in the country that fought harder for her players than Judith Davidson. At the time, she and Michele Madison were ahead of their time when it came to mental toughness, proper nutrition and strength training. Judith established high standards, set daily expectations, and used this mantra often, “Perfect practice makes perfect.” She was truly an inspiration and incredible coach who helped form all of us as players and people.”

“From the moment we set foot on the Iowa campus and started to learn more about the university, the program, the culture, and community, we loved it, and bled black and gold. We learned just how important each person was to the program. Field hockey is truly a team sport and whether you were on the bench or the best player or part of the support staff, you are valued. This was clear at Iowa. It was engrained in us how important it was to honor everyone who contributed to the program. We were a team. It’s truly hard to describe. We chuckled at people who called us ‘cult-like’, but they weren’t far off. It has been fun to watch Iowa do so well in recent years, a testament to Iowa’s history and tradition, including coaches, Margie Greenberg, Dr. Christine Grant, Dr. Judith Davidson, Beth Beglin, Tracey Griesbaum and Lisa Cellucci.

“Playing at Iowa under great coaches and with outstanding teammates and support staff sent me on a whole new trajectory in field hockey and life. My experience as a student-athlete at Iowa prepared me and inspired many of us to dream big. I would never have had the opportunity to become a Team USA Olympian without the support and advocacy of Iowa’s leaders. I can safely speak for my teammates in saying that there was not a moment in time during our tenure at Iowa where we did not feel the positive impact that Title IX had on all of us. Dr. Christine Grant, the Women’s Athletic Director, became a national voice and advocate for women in sport, as was our head coach, Dr. Judith Davidson and Michele Madison, and others. These amazing women fought for the practice time, uniforms, facilities, resources, the most efficient ways to travel so we were best prepared every time we stepped out on the field. We didn’t just ‘feel’ the impact, we lived it every day. I have always felt so fortunate to be a Hawkeye and cherish the family bond that is Iowa field hockey.”