THIS WEEK
The seventh-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team hosts California and No. 2 Duke on Friday at 3 p.m. (CT) and Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT), respectfully. Admission is free.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
• Flashback Friday - Fans early to the stands will receive a Fight For Iowa keychain flashlight.
• Sunday - A select number of early fans will receive Grant Goes Gold T-Shirts to support Iowa's GOLD OUT against Duke.
FOLLOW ON THE WEB
Iowa field hockey fans can follow all contests via live stats on hawkeyesports.com. Click on the "Live Stats" link found on the field hockey schedule page. Fans can also follow @IowaFieldHockey on Twitter for live in-game updates.
• Both games will be streamed live on BTN+ (subscription) or use BTN-2Go for free access on campus.
WEEK TWO RECAP
Then No. 8 Iowa faced two non-conference opponents last weekend, opening their 2019 home slate. The Hawkeyes defeated Central Michigan 11-0, which was identical to their last meeting in 2016. Senior Sophie Sunderland recorded a hat trick in as many shots, recording the Hawkeyes' first of the season. Fellow senior Katie Birch recorded a team-high five assists during the match and a goal. In total, nine Hawkeyes scored in the win.
Sunday's matchup against Columbia was the first ever meeting between the Hawkeyes and Lions. Scoring remained even at 0-0 heading into halftime, the Hawkeyes striking first in the third period. Iowa would eventually win 3-1, improving its record to 3-1.
SUNDERLAND EARNS B1G WEEKLY HONORS
Senior Sophie Sunderland was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday afternoon. This is Sunderland's first weekly honor of the season and second of her career. She was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week in 2016.
Sunderland, a native of Ipswich, England, recorded her second career hat trick in Iowa's 11-0 victory over Central Michigan last Friday. She scored in the 27th, 51st, and the 55th minute, recording the Hawkeyes' first hat trick of the season.
On Sunday, Sunderland was key in keeping the ball moving downfield quickly, allowing opportunities for her teammates to score in their 3-1 victory over Columbia.
SCOUTING CALIFORNIA (1-2)
• California is on a two-game losing streak after facing No. 15 Northwestern and No. 7 Michigan this past weekend. The Golden Bears fell to the Wildcats 0-3, followed by a 2-1 loss to the Wolverines on Sunday.
• Head Coach Shellie Onstead, a 2008 U.S. Olympic assistant coach and California Hall of Fame inductee, is in her 25th season heading the Cal-Berkeley program. Onstead has earned a 254-189 career record and has led Cal to 11 conference titles, including guiding the 2011 squad to the NorPac Tournament Championship. The six-time NorPac Coach of the Year has guided the Bears to five NCAA Tournament appearances.
• The Bears' squad features four players with U.S. National team experience in Katrina Carter (USA Development Squad), Megan Rodgers (USA U21), Brynn Zorilla (U19, U21) and Megan Conners (U19).
IOWA VS. CALIFORNIA -- THE SERIES
• The Hawkeyes lead the Golden Bears 12-1 all-time in their career matchups.
• Iowa's only loss in the series came in 2002. Since then, the Hawkeyes have won four straight games. The Hawkeyes won the last meeting in 2017, 3-0.
SCOUTING NO. 2 DUKE (4-0)
• No. 2 Duke is undefeated so far this season, having faced two top-10 teams in No. 9 Penn State and No. 2 Maryland. The Blue Devils shut out Maryland 1-0 during their neutral site game this past Sunday in Evanston, Illinois.
• Duke head coach Pam Bustin is a two-time ACC and NFHCA South Region Coach of the Year and a member of the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame. After spending 12 seasons as the head coach at Lousiville, Bustin joined the Duke field hockey program, guiding the Blue Devils to a 114-54 ledger and a trip to the 2013 NCAA title game.
IOWA VS DUKE -- THE SERIES
• Duke leads the series 5-2 all-time. Iowa's last victory came in 2007 at Durham, North Carolina, 2-0.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING -- TEAM STATS
• The Hawkeyes dominated possession this past weekend at home, controlling the majority of play. In Iowa's 11-0 victory over Central Michigan, the Chippewas went shotless the entire match. The Hawkeyes received 16 penalty corners, recording a minimum of two goals per period and a high of four in the second period. Nine Hawkeyes Scored in the matchup.
• Iowa's 3-1 victory over Columbia also swayed in Iowa's favor with lopsided ball control. Iowa put up 33 shots to Columbia's four and had 17 corners to Columbia's two.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING -- INDIVIDUAL STATS
• Senior Sophie Sunderland leads the team in goals (4) after her hat trick against Central Michigan, followed by Sofie Stribos, Lokke Stribos, Maddy Murphy and Katie Birch who all boast two goals. 10 Hawkeyes have scored at least one goal so far this season.
• Birch leads the team in assists with five thus far, followed by Maddy Murphy and Meghan Conroy who sport two a piece.
• Senior goalkeeper Leslie Speight recorded six saves in her first two outings, four of which came against No. 1 North Carolina. Speight saw no shots thanks to the Hawkeyes defense against CMU and recorded no saves against Columbia.
B1G COMPETITION
• The Big Ten Conference boasts eight ranked programs in the latest 2019 Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll. Five teams are among the top-15 (Maryland, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Northwestern). Michigan State cracked the rankings list at No. 25 this week, leaving Indiana as the only unranked Big Ten program.
B1G PRESEASON HONORS
• Katie Birch, Maddy Murphy, and Sophie Sunderland earned preseason All-Big Ten recognition, announced by the conference on Aug. 27.
• Birch, a senior midfielder from York, England, earned NFHCA second team All-American recognition after starting all 18 games and recording team highs in assists (10) -- the fourth most in the Big Ten a season ago. She recorded 56 shots to tally 26 points. This is the third straight year Birch has earned preseason honors by the Big Ten Conference.
• Murphy, a junior forward, started all 18 games last year and recorded 13 goals and 33 points. The Riana, Tasmania, native was named to the NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad and earned NFHCA first team All-West Region honors and first team All-Big Ten honors last season. Murphy led the team with four game-winning goals.
• Sunderland, a senior midfielder, earned second team All-Big Ten honors by posting career highs in goals (7), assists (5), and points (19) during her junior year last season. The Ipswich, England, native, recorded her first career hat trick in Iowa's 7-1 win over Ball State. Last season's selection to the All-West regional roster was the first of her career.
IOWA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Hawkeyes have been selected to the NCAA Tournament 23 times in program history -- the most of any school as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Hawkeyes are 26-24 all-time in tournament play, including 9-6 in first round match-ups and 11-6 in second round contests. Iowa has advanced to 11 NCAA Final Fours, winning the 1986 national championship. The Hawkeyes' 26 tournament victories and 11 NCAA Final Fours are the most of any school as a member of the Big Ten Conference.
• In 2018, Iowa faced Wake Forest, falling 2-1. Wake Forest would go on to earn a Final Four appearance and lose to eventual champion North Carolina.
ROSTER AT A GLANCE
• The Hawkeyes return 18 letterwinners from last season.
• 10 of Iowa's 18 letterwinners saw action in all 21 contests during the 2018 season.
• Iowa welcomes four freshman, including Amy Gaiero, Sofie Stribos, Esme Gibson, and Ellie Flynn.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Hawkeyes head back to Ann Arbor, Michigan to face Kent State on Saturday, September 21 at 12 p.m. (CT).