Iowa Field Hockey upset by Indiana in a controversial ending
It has been an up and down year for the Iowa Field Hockey team. They’ve experienced the growing pains that you would expect from a team that has six underclassmen starters, but came into Friday with everything in front of them if they wanted to make the NCAA Tournament. However, a majorly improved Indiana team looking to make their first Big Ten Tournament appearance since 2021 arrived at Grant Field with the intention of upsetting the Hawkeyes. A double overtime game-winner from Sofia Arrebola Garcia gave the Hoosiers a 2-1 victory. It’s the first win for Indiana over Iowa since 2015.
“Really tough result for us,” said head coach Lisa Cellucci.
Neither side got a whole lot going offensively in the first half. Indiana controlled the pace of play in the opening quarter, but the Hawkeyes were able to flip the script in the second quarter. Although both sides had their stretches with solid possession, there were just two total shots recorded.
“They had the run of play in the first quarter and then I think we really changed the tide in the second,” said Cellucci. “We changed our structure a bit and a little bit of our strategy, especially in the midfield.”
After an uneventful opening half, the intensity went up a couple of levels in the second half, starting with an Indiana goal in the 37th minute. Midfielder Meredith Lee drove into the circle, spun around and sent a changeup, backhand shot that bounced through traffic and past Mia Magnotta into the goal.
The Hawkeyes backs were up against the wall and with little to no offensive production to that point, it felt like a dire situation. In the 48th minute, off of a restart outside of the circle, Dionne van Aalsum chipped one towards the goal and Annika Herbine was able to get a touch on the bouncing ball to direct it past IU GK Sadie Canelli for the game-tying goal.
“It was great resilience. Our backs were to the wall, and we had to find a way to tie it and we did.”
In double overtime, Iowa had a prime chance to win it in the 72nd minute. Milly Short connected with Annika Herbine who swiped one into the circle for Sabrina McGroarty. The freshman had an open swipe at the ball, but her shot attempt went just wide of the goal.
“We had a couple of other opportunities through regulation and then in overtime, a really near miss,” said Cellucci. “I think we could have produced a little bit more (in the way of) opportunities in the offensive half and we didn’t. Some senseless mistakes, standing and watching too much and we need to be better joining and supporting (the play).”
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The clock continued to click closer and closer to a penalty shootout, but Iowa was whistled for a foul in the circle and Indiana was awarded a penalty corner in the 78th minute. Lisa Cellucci immediately signaled for a video referral from the sideline, while defender Milly Short asked for a review. Although the Hawkeyes had a referral remaining, the officials denied their request.
“We thought there should have been a video referral because we didn’t understand what the call was and didn’t think ii was a penalty corner at all,” said Cellucci. “For some reason, they denied the referral.”
Off of the corner insert, Jemima Cookson set up teammate Sofia Arrebola Garcia and she perfectly placed a shot into the left corner of the goal for the game-winner. It’s the Hawkeyes second loss in double overtime or later this season.
With the loss, Iowa falls to 6-5 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten play. As of today, they would be out of the Big Ten Tournament for the first time in program history.
Up Next: The Hawkeyes will host the Monmouth Hawks in a non-conference match on Sunday afternoon at Grant Field. The game is set to begin at 12:00pm CT on BTN+.
