IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Iowa field hockey team fell to top-ranked North Carolina, 3-0, in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at Grant Field on Sunday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawkeyes fought hard against top-ranked Tarheels in the first half, out-shooting North Carolina four to three. Iowa received a penalty stroke in the 15th minute, but was unable to capitalize. The scored remained tied at zero at the end of the first half. The Tarheels took advantage of their penalty corner opportunities in the second half, scoring twice. North Carolina scored in the 54th, 60th, and the 63rd minute to secure the 3-0 victory.
QUOTING HEAD COACH LISA CELLUCCI
“I’m really proud of the effort. We had the number one ranked team in the country on the ropes for majority of the game. It was 0-0 with 16 minutes left in the game. Had we capitalized on the penalty stroke earlier in the game, I think it would’ve been a very different tone, but I’m proud of how we came out of yesterday. The message is we know we have potential. We are just getting the gitters out and getting the newcomers used to the positions they are playing.”
“We’ve been playing in this series for 16 years and it only helps us because we know right away what we are going to need for the toughest competition in the country and what we have to improve upon. Our sights are set on the Big Ten season and going after a Big Ten Championship."
NOTABLES
- All eight of Iowa’s newcomers made their Hawkeye debuts this weekend. Nikki Freeman, Mya Christopher, Lucie Daman, and Madeleine Murphy all registered their first collegiate starts.
- Senior goalkeeper Katie Jones recorded three saves in the loss.
- The Hawkeyes recorded nine shots, four in the first half and five in the second. Sophomore Katie Birch led all players with four shots.
RECORD UPDATE
- With the loss, the Hawkeyes fall to 0-2 on the season.
- The Tarheels split the weekend moving to 1-1.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel to California for a trio of contests next weekend. The Hawkeyes take on Stanford on Sept. 1 before playing California on Sept. 3 and UC-Davis on Sept. 4.
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