IU beats Northwestern on Senior Day, gets 1st conference victory

The IU field hockey team sent its six seniors out in style Sunday with a 2-1 win over Northwestern on Senior Day at the IU Field Hockey Field. \n“It was awesome to get the win on Senior Day today,” senior goalkeeper Haley Exner said in a statement. “We played with so much adrenaline and heart. We also played really well as a team today and I think that is what allowed us to get the win.”\nThe Hoosiers honored seniors Kate O'Connell, Meredith Brown, Margie Stoll, Amanda Oyler, Erin Isler and Exner during the game. \nIU started off quickly with a goal in the 10th minute by junior forward Katie Kiper, who deflected a penalty corner from freshman back Brenna Moeljadi, guiding the ball past Northwestern goalie Emily Kyle for the goal.\nNorthwestern’s Amanda Care tied the game at one, scoring on a penalty stroke in the 25th minute. \nThe game remained tied until the 52nd minute, when junior midfielder Meg O’Connell scored her second goal in two games to give IU a 2-1 lead. \n“We worked on it this week in practice in our shooting drills inside the 25-yard line, and I think that really helped me feel more confident to just get in the circle and take the shot,” Meg O’Connell said in a statement. “And the last couple games, they have been going in.”\nMeg O’Connell was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after amassing two goals and one assist in the Hoosiers’ three games last week.\nExner and the Hoosier defense held off the Wildcats for the rest of the game to earn the win. \n“Our defense was more organized today than maybe at any point so far this season and that led to them being more confident back there,” IU coach Amy Robertson said in a statement.\nIU controlled the ball throughout the game, outshot Northwestern 8-6 and earned a 7-5 advantage in penalty corners. \n“Our possession was the key today,” Robertson said in a statement. “We stayed poised when Northwestern put pressure on us and made some great outlet passes out of it.”\nThe win was the first Big Ten win of the season for IU, bringing its record to 8-9 overall and 1-5 in the Big Ten. After wrapping up the regular season conference schedule, the Hoosiers will face Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday. \nWhile the focus of this week’s practice will shift to the Big Ten Tournament, the Hoosiers are just happy to get a win on Senior Day. \n“It is great to have the seniors go out with a win,” Robertson said in a statement. “Our team really worked hard today to make sure that these seniors got a win in their last home game, because they have all worked so hard over the course of their careers.”