Field hockey splits pair of games

After dropping two matches last week, the IU field hockey team rebounded, splitting a pair of matches this weekend against Iowa and Pacific.

The Hoosiers’ Big Ten record fell to 0-3 after losing to Iowa on Friday 5-1.

The Hawkeyes’ scoring output started early when junior midfielder Dani Hemeon scored the first goal of the match at the six-minute mark.

The Hoosiers responded quickly when senior forward Mariella Grote scored in the 21st minute. It would be IU’s only goal of the match.

Eleven minutes later, Iowa forward Natalie Cafone found the back of the net to give the Hawkeyes a 2-1 lead.

In the first half, Iowa out shot IU two to 10. The Hawkeyes also earned six penalty corners, while the Hoosiers were unable to register one.

Iowa would continue the strong scoring output in the second half. Hemeon scored her second goal of the match 10 minutes into the second half, which gave Iowa a 3-1 lead.

The Hoosiers held the Hawkeyes in check for the next 22 minutes before Iowa scored two goals in a two-minute span.

Hemeon scored her third goal at the 67-minute mark. Iowa senior forward Kelsey Mitchell scored the final goal of the game in the 69th minute to solidify Iowa’s 5-1 victory.

Despite the loss, IU Coach Amy Robertson said she liked how the team was attacking throughout the game.

“We are connecting on a better level,” Robertson said. “We are giving passes and trusting each other. Our attack against Iowa was really good at times. We are reshaping well and playing more strictly, which is giving us more flow.”

The Hoosiers’ luck changed Saturday when they defeated Pacific 4-1.

IU came scored three goals in the first 15 minutes.

Junior midfielder Corrine Karch scored in the third minute, with Grote adding her second goal of the weekend four minutes later.

Senior back Danielle McNally scored the final goal of the first half at the 15-minute mark, which was McNally’s sixth goal of the year.

Pacific found the back of the cage for the first time of the match in the 48th minute when freshman forward Emily Tregoning scored.

IU quickly responded when junior forward Audra Heilman scored in the 49th minute. Heilman’s goal would be the last goal of the game, which helped the Hoosiers advance to a 7-6 record.

IU outshot Pacific 10-9 and also registered four saves. Pacific did have more penalty corners, attempting 12 to the Hoosiers’ five.

Robertson said one thing she is concerned with is the amount of penalty corners the team has been allowing recently.

“We need to figure out how to give less corners,” she said. “Other teams are smashing the ball into the circle, and we are ending up on the wrong end of the draw.”

Grote said the team is encouraged to get back on a winning track and is looking forward to next weekend’s games.

“We are ready to keep the winning streak alive,” Grote said. “The win against Pacific was really helpful, and we are ready to continue the solid play.”

Follow reporter Dan Matney on Twitter @Dan_Matney.