Iowa Field Hockey falls to Michigan State in OT, Big Ten Tournament hopes dwindling
It’s been a disappointing season for the Iowa Field Hockey team. They came into the season with hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament for a seventh straight season, despite some question marks on the roster due to injuries and graduation departures.
Those hopes have, unfortunately, come and gone, while their overtime loss on Friday to Michigan State may knock them from the Big Ten Tournament for the first time in program history. The loss drops the 16th-ranked Hawkeyes to 8-7 on the season and 1-4 in overtime/shootouts. It also snaps a ten-game winning streak against MSU dating back to 2014.
After a scoreless first 30 minutes, the Spartans opened the scoring with a goal off of a penalty corner in the 41st minute. Maddie Lawlor scored her fifth goal of the season on a direct shot from the top of the circle. It marked just the second goal for MSU against Iowa in their last eight meetings.
Time started to get short on the Hawkeyes in the fourth quarter, but they were able to find the equalizer in the 58th minute. Dionne van Aalsum got the ball into the circle and midfielder Lieve van Kessel put the game-tying shot past MSU GK Layra Gavino while falling to the ground.
Iowa got the best chance you could ever ask for in the closing seconds of regulation. An MSU defender intentionally cleared a ball off the back line, which gave the Hawkeyes a penalty corner with under five seconds to play. Chaos, several near goals and re-awards ensued, but after five penalty corners, the game headed to overtime.
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In overtime, the Spartans capitalized on their penalty corner opportunity in the 66th minute to win the match. Off of the insert, Maddie Lawlor dumped a pass to teammate Carmen Pucheta and her shot slipped under the stick of post player Harper Dunne for the game-winning goal.
Iowa outshot Michigan State 20-17 and held an 11-4 advantage in shots on goal. The story of the game came on the penalty corner. Iowa was 0/12, including the five corners at the end of regulation. MSU was 2/13, including the game-winning goal in overtime.
Up Next: The Hawkeyes will travel to Columbus on Sunday for a matchup against the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The game is set to get underway at 11:00am CT on BTN+.
