No. 11 Hawkeyes Rally Past No. 7 Wake Forest in OT

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The 11th-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team rallied to overcome a 3-0 deficit and won its season opener over No. 7 Wake Forest, 4-3 in sudden victory overtime.  

“What an unbelievable comeback,” said head coach Lisa Cellucci. “Very gritty performance by the Hawks. We had an unfortunate first two quarters and this team showed what they’re capable of when we play together, stick to the plan, we problem solve, and have great energy and communication.”   

Wake Forest got on the board first at the 4:40 mark when Ava Moore converted a penalty stroke for her first goal of the season. The Demon Decons expanded their advantage late in the opening quarter when Bianca Rees-Gibbs found the back of the net at the 12:39 mark for her first goal of the season and her career.

Wake Forest added to their lead in the second quarter when Rory Heslin found the back of the net at the 21:52 mark off an assist from Sela Provenzano for her first goal of the season to make the score 3-0 Deacons.

Iowa cut into the deficit late in the third quarter when Fréderique van Cleef found the back of the net at the 42:35 mark for her first goal of the season. Iowa struck again just over two minutes later at the 44:50 mark when Dionne van Aalsum scored her first goal of the season off an assist from Lieve van Kessel to pull the Hawkeyes closer.

Meg Tebben, a first-year for the Hawkeyes, delivered the equalizer at the 51:34 mark, scoring her first career collegiate goal to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

First-year Reine van Hoof netted the game-winner at the 66:46 mark in overtime, recording her first career collegiate goal to seal the Hawkeyes' victory.

OF NOTE…  
- First Years Amber Millard-Smith, Meg Tebben, and Myra Van De Kop made their collegiate debuts along with grad student Emily Edwards.  
- Iowa defeated Wake Forest for the seventh consecutive year in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. 
- The Hawkeyes have won 13 of the last 14 meetings in the series.  
- The Hawkeyes have won nine straight season openers.  
 
UP NEXT  
The Hawkeyes return to action Sunday, facing second-ranked North Carolina at 10 a.m. (CT) in Winston Salem, N.C. The game can be streamed on ACCNX/ESPN+.