EVANSTON, Ill. – Sophomore Lieve Schalk’s golden goal in a shootout led the 11th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over the fifth-ranked Virginia on Friday night at Lakeside Field, sending the Hawkeyes to Sunday’s Elite Eight.
The Sweet 16 victory improves the Hawkeyes’ record at 12-7, advancing the team to the 21st Elite Eight in program history.
Senior Esme Gibson gave the Hawkeyes the 1-0 lead, scoring in the final minute of the first half. Gibson shot deflected off a Virginia defender’s stick into the goal.
Virginia tied the game at one in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter on a strike from Laura Janssen. The game remained scoreless through two overtimes, concluding the matchup in a shootout.
Both goalkeepers were stout as the shoot off was tied at three. After goalkeeper Mia Magnotta stopped a Cavalier attempt, Schalk scored the go-ahead goal to send Iowa to the victory. The strike was Schalk’s first career goal.
Redshirt freshman Mia Magnotta recorded the first win of her career – in her second career start and third collegiate game. She recorded two saves in regulation and held Virginia to three goals in the shootout.
“My coach tells me to have confidence in myself,” said Magnotta. “You practice every day for this. I face great shots (from my teammates) every day, so it’s nothing I’m not prepared for.”
QUOTING HEAD COACH LISA CELLUCCI
“The month of October was a struggle for us, but the team never stopped believing and neither did we. The team kept going to work every day, and we knew eventually it was going to fall. What we had to do was stick to a game plan for 60 minutes and that’s what these guys did today to a T. Virginia is an outstanding team, but we were able to stick to the plan and use the shallow transfer. That was huge, and it opened up the field for us and gave us some opportunities going forward.
“I am impressed first and foremost with the team’s grit and resilience. We have way less numbers than Virginia did, but they were able to hang through two overtimes and some really clutch performances under pressure”
OF NOTE…
– Iowa out-shot Virginia, 7-5, and had a 3-2 advantage in penalty corners.
– Both Virginia and Iowa recorded two saves a piece.
– Iowa will face Northwestern for a second straight year in the Elite Eight. The Wildcats won, 1-0, last season in Iowa City.
– The Hawkeyes have won at least one game in four straight NCAA Tournaments.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will face Northwestern on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT) in Evanston, Illinois.
