In the midst of a three-game win streak, which included two significant Big Ten victories, Indiana field hockey faced off against two California teams, hoping to extend its streak.
The Hoosiers secured a 2-0 victory over No. 18 University of California, Berkley on Friday, shutting out the Golden Bears and showcasing their best field hockey of the year. As they prepared for Sunday's match against Stanford, the 7-6 Hoosiers aimed to build on their recent success.
However, in its second game of the weekend on Sunday, Indiana lost a closely contested match to Stanford, coming up just short 2-1 despite dominating in the box score.
Cal presented yet another formidable challenge for Indiana.
However, Indiana gained the first lead through senior midfielder Meredith Lee’s goal in the 23rd minute, giving the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead.
Indiana's defense was formidable, allowing Cal just three shots in the first half, while the Hoosiers managed five shots and controlled possession throughout the first 30 minutes.
In the third period, sophomore midfielder Hannah Riddle netted her first career goal on a penalty shot, extending Indiana's lead to 2-0.
Indiana freshman goalkeeper Sadie Canelli earned Division I National Defensive Player of the Week from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association on Wednesday. She continued her strong performances by pitching a shutout against No. 18 ranked Cal, making eight saves to secure the victory.
Indiana aimed to carry that momentum into its second game of the weekend. However, the Hoosiers were unable to secure a win, falling 2-1.
It was standing room only for Sunday’s Senior Day game against Stanford, and the fans brought the energy, as they cheered enthusiastically and rallied support for Indiana throughout the match.
Riddle, who scored her first goal of the season in Friday's game, found herself in the same spot again. From the penalty spot, she launched a quick shot to the left corner of the goal, just beyond the reach of sophomore goalkeeper Daisy Ford.
Her goal was the only one of the day, as Stanford's defense, along with some misfortune and a lack of execution from Indiana, limited the Hoosiers to just one score. Despite a barrage of 24 shots, Indiana managed only five shots on goal.
Stanford struck first in the 24th minute, as junior defender Scout Butler scored off a penalty corner, redirecting her teammates pass over Canelli for the score. Indiana quickly pushed back, but a potential equalizer was overturned due to a penalty call, leaving the crowd frustrated.
Trailing at halftime, Indiana aimed to keep the Cardinal scoreless while searching for an offensive answer. However, Stanford's full-field pressure proved overwhelming, making it difficult for the Hoosiers to move the ball out of their half for most of the third quarter.
A defensive lapse from Indiana allowed Stanford's graduate student forward Allison Kuzyk an open path to the goal. Kuzyk connected with sophomore forward Star Horlock for a score, extending the Cardinal lead to two.
After Riddle’s goal in the 42nd minute, Indiana came to life, trailing by just one score. However, despite their efforts, the Hoosiers were unable to find the back of the net again and ultimately fell short in their comeback attempt, remaining shut out for the remainder of the game.
Despite finding themselves lining up for a penalty corner ten times in the second half, the Hoosiers struggled to capitalize in the scoring circle. Throughout the game, they left 19 shots wide of the goal and failed to truly challenge Stanford goalkeeper Daisy Ford.
The Hoosiers will travel for their final two road games of the regular season next weekend, starting in Columbus, Ohio, to take on Ohio State at 3:00 p.m. Friday.
