No. 8 Iowa Upsets No. 3 Rutgers on Senior Day

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The eighth-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team downed No. 3 Rutgers, 7-2, on Senior Day at Grant Field.

Iowa improves to 13-4 on the season and 4-4 in Big Ten play.

“What an offensive explosion. We really stuck to the game plan. We said we wanted to put them under great pressure, and we moved the ball really well,” said head coach Lisa Cellucci. “We were willing to join, we supported the ball carrier, and we found great opportunities on goal. What a fantastic offensive display.”

Freshman Dionne van Aalsum gave the Hawkeyes the lead in the 21st minute of the game, assisted by junior Lieve Schalk and junior Annika Herbine, scoring the lone goal in the first half.

Herbine opened the second half with a goal in the 32nd minute, unassisted.

Rutgers cut the Hawkeyes’ lead in half in the 34th minute off a successful penalty corner before Iowa struck back with another goal less than two minute later scored by senior Alex Wesneski assisted by van Aalsum.

Iowa scored three back-to-back goals to continue their roll over the Scarlet Knights. Senior Esme Gibson scored her second goal of the season at 38:25, and the freshman duo, Miranda Jackson and van Aalsum, each scored goals in the 53rd and 55th minute respectively.

The Scarlet Knights were able to tally another goal in the 56th minute before the Hawkeyes closed out the game with their seventh goal scored by junior Jacey Wittel.

OF NOTE…
– Seven goals is the most Iowa has scored against an NFHCA ranked team.
It is the most goals against a Big Ten opponent since 2017 when Iowa defeated Michigan State, 7-1.
– The Hawkeyes recorded their sixth win against a ranked opponent this season.
– Van Aalsum has scored in 12 out of 17 games this season. The freshman has 27 goals on the season.
Her 27 goals are tied for the most by an Iowa freshman in program history with Krissy Gleason (1989).
– Sophomore Mia Magnotta recorded five saves tonight totaling 61 saves on the season.

UP NEXT
No. 8 Iowa travels to Ann Arbor, Michigan on Thursday to face Maryland at 5 p.m. (CT) in the 2023 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament.