IOWA CITY, Iowa – Four different Hawkeyes scored a season-high six goals to lead the fifth-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team to a 6-0 shutout victory over Saint Louis on Sunday afternoon at Grant Field. The win moves Iowa’s record to 3-1 this season.
Sophomore Annika Herbine gave the Hawkeyes the early advantage when she found back of the goal in the seventh minute. She was assisted by senior Ciara Smith for her third goal of the season.
Iowa struck again in the 14th minute, taking advantage of a penalty corner. Senior Anthe Nijziel scored her first goal of the season off assists from Herbine and sophomore Lieve Schalk, making the score 2-0.
After junior Alex Wesneski made the score 3-0 with a goal at the 14:33 mark, Iowa pushed its halftime lead to 4-0. Smith capitalized off a penalty corner for her first strike following assists from Laura Drees and Leah Zellner.
After halftime both Wesneski and Smith added to their ledger. Smith scored in the 44th minute off a penalty corner with Lokke Stribos and Schalk on the assist and Herbine capped the scoring at the 46:14 mark to notch her second straight multi-goal game.
Senior Grace McGuire and redshirt freshman Mia Magnotta combined for the Hawkeyes’ second straight shutout. Magnotta made one second half save in her first career action and Iowa faced just four shots in the game.
QUOTING COACH CELLUCCI
“It was a better start today; we had our foot on the gas from the beginning. We made it a lot easier for ourselves with passing outside the line and how we build the ball. We could have made it even more open today if we had made some simple changes and filling the far post. We’ll take it as the goals are starting to fall now.
“Sometimes you have to get your feet wet (to start scoring) and Ciara had some good corner executions on the redirects, so that was fantastic. We’re going to be coming into the level of play increase with two great teams coming next weekend and Big Ten play starting. We need to have this be more common place in getting more shots, more corners and scoring opportunities.”
OF NOTE…
– Iowa out-shot the Billikens, 25-4, in the game.
– Wesneski has a team-best six goals in four games. She had four goals in 32 career games entering the 2022 season.
– In two games this weekend, Iowa scored 10 goals and out-shot the two opponents, 39-6.
– Graduate student Laura Drees tallied the first point of her Hawkeye career.
– Twenty different Hawkeyes saw action in the contest.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action Friday, hosting Providence for Fan Appreciation Day at 2 p.m. (CT) at Grant Field.
