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Iowa

Hawkeyes hold off Indiana, win their Big Ten opener

On3 imageby: Kyle Huesmann09/19/25HuesmannKyle
The Hawkeyes defeated Indiana in their conference opener. (Photo by UI Athletics)
The Hawkeyes defeated Indiana in their conference opener. (Photo by UI Athletics)

There’s little chance that this weekend wasn’t circled on the calendar for the Iowa Field Hockey team. Not one, but two chances to get Indiana back after they handed the Hawkeyes a 2OT loss in Iowa City last season. That loss was one of several narrow defeats that kept Iowa out of the NCAA Tournament. Lisa Cellucci’s squad returned the favor on Friday, defeating the Hoosiers 3-2 in Bloomington to start of their Big Ten campaign with a 1-0 record.

Entering the matchup, Indiana ranked second in the country in goals per game (4.83), while the Hawkeyes were ranked fifth (4.52). However, it was a defensive game early, with both sides feeling each other out and waiting to take chances. Neither team recorded a shot in the opening quarter.

The first 24 minutes of the game were scoreless, but the Hawkeyes were finally able to break through in the 25th minute. Stemming from an attack penalty corner, the initial play broke down, but Iowa kept with it and kept the ball in the circle. Their persistence paid off. A deflected pass from Felicia Zonnenberg across the face of goal was batted into the net by Lieve van Kessel for her second goal of the season.

Early in the second half, the Indiana attack, which scored 17 goals in two games against Lock Haven and St Francis last week, got on the board to tie the game. In the 33rd minute, Theresa Ricci got the ball moving in transition, passing to teammate Charlotte Glasper in the circle. The sophomore turned and sent a scorching shot past Iowa GK Mia Magnotta for the equalizer. A slight redirect off the stick of midfielder Jordan Byers made it an impossible shot to save.

The game was tied for just 28 seconds. Before the Hoosier fans in attendance could even settle back into their seats, the Hawkeyes answered. Frederique van Cleef quickly brought the ball up the end line and chipped on in front of the cage where Dionne van Aalsum knocked it in for her 15th goal of the season.

Iowa added an insurance goal in the 47th minute to extend their lead to 3-1. The Hoosiers got a circle penetration, but turned the ball over, allowing the Hawkeyes to take off in transition. Frederique van Cleef outlet the ball to Felicia Zonnenberg, which started a 2-on-1 break down the field. Zonnenberg raced into the circle and when Indiana GK Sadie Canelli came out of her goal, it was an easy dump off pass at the back post for van Cleef to poke in.

Indiana didn’t go quietly. They racked up five penalty corners over the final nine minutes, including converting in the 57th minute on a shot from Mijntje Hagen to cut the Iowa lead to 3-2, but they were unable to find another to force overtime. The Hoosiers pulled their goalkeeper, but the Hawkeyes handled the pressure with an extra attacker on the field and closed out the win to start Big Ten play with a 1-0 record.

FINAL STATS

#11 Iowa 3 Indiana 2

25′ – Goal Iowa Lieve van Kessel (1-0), 33′ – Goal Indiana Charlotte Glasper (1-1), 33′ – Goal Iowa Dionne van Aalsum (2-1), 47′ – Goal Iowa Frederique van Cleef (3-1), 57′ – Goal Indiana Mijntje Hagen (3-2)

Shots: Indiana 15-10 Shots on Goal: Indiana 7-6 Penalty Corners: Indiana 8-4

Up Next, the Hawkeyes will stick around in Bloomington for another couple of days and face the Hoosiers again on Sunday in a non-conference matchup. The game is set to get underway at 11:00am CT on BTN+.

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