31 October
On the way to Columbus for our match against Ohio State, the little Fiat started emitting a hideous rattle from somewhere towards the rear. Always the optimist, I hoped that the noise was just something rolling about in the boot, though my catastrophist alter ego commenced chanting “wheel bearing” and I half expected to see one of my wheels continuing down the road ahead of me the next time I braked. Fortunately, I reached the car park next to the venue uneventfully and joined the Hawk fans at our tailgate. Our victory over the Wolverines cemented our invitation to the Big Ten Tournament next week in Bloomington, but another win would improve our chances of making the finals, as the winner of the 4th v. 5th place opening day match would face the Wildcats the following day. The Ohio State Buckeyes were coming off an upset loss to usual doormat Michigan State and a 0-7 battering by the ’Cats. They knew they were a better team, and they had a lot to prove. Their captain was Mackenna Webster, an aspirant for the US National Team and unusual as a two-sport NCAA player in both ice and field hockey.

In the opening quarter both teams pressed aggressively. The Buckeyes gained the first penalty corner in the third minute, passed the injection around and Iowa made the save. Iowa had the next chance when van Aalsum got a shot on goal that went high, but almost immediately got the penalty corner. Zonnenberg injected and van Aalsum’ shot fast and low. The OCU goalkeeper went to ground to her right but the ball blazed through the gap between the goalie and her left-post player, sometimes referred to as “the strait of uncertainty” and Iowa was up one-nil. The Buckeyes soon had a chance to equalize with a penalty corner but a slow injection bounced around the circle and Iowa took over. With two minutes to go Iowa had another penalty corner and van Aalsum shifted left from the castle to take the injection but her shot missed and the quarter ended Iowa 1 OSU 0.

Second quarter was all Bucks chances to equalize. In the fifth minute OSU had a penalty corner but shot was saved by Magnotta. Five minutes later with another PC shot was wide. Two minutes later a shot at the Iowa goal went off the post. In the last 40 seconds Fort-Pied’s foot (ironically) gave OSU another but the shot deflected off Iowa’s Gia Whalen’s’stick into her face. Play continued with Gia on the pitch (field hockey players are the toughest athletes in women’s sport) and the score remained Iowa up one at the half.

Four minutes into the third quarter and Iowa got a penalty corner. Van Aalsum’s shot went wide right. Ohio State took possession to midfield but Zonnenberg took the ball for Iowa and passed to van Aalsum in the middle of the circle for an easy shot on goal. The Buckeye goalkeeper Stevens blocked her shot but it rebounded straight back to van Aalsum, who proceeded to put the ball right between her legs into the goal. Iowa were up two-nil. As the Hawkeye fans stood up and cheered, I could not help thinking, good, an insurance goal, maybe we can breathe easier. In the eighth minute I thought Iowa might give OSU a mountain to climb when van Aalsum got another opportunity but her shot went high. Then the Buckeyes took the momentum and turned the match around, getting a penalty corner. Webster injected and Katie Fichtner’s shot took a deflection off the stick of Iowa defender Gia Whalen and bounced into the goal. Suspense continued. Webster got a shot at the Iowa goal but Magnotta saved it. Iowa penetrated the Ohio State circle but lost possession and penetrated the Iowa circle. In the huge melee in front of the goal Krebs looped a shot into the goal. More suspense as Iowa called for a video review but the goal counted. Iowa counterattacked and van Cleef got the penalty corner but the Buckeyes easily defended against van Aalsum’s shot. We went into the final quarter two all with Ohio State equalizing in under eight minutes.

The final quarter continued to stress the Iowa fans’ nerves. With four minutes to go OSU got a penalty corner and the shot sailed into the net, but as our hearts sank the umpire signaled no goal; shot was high of the backboard. Then Iowa penetrated but van Cleef’s shot was easily deflected. With thirteen seconds left the Buckeyes had another chance to put the game away with a penalty corner but the injection was slightly slow and off and they passed the ball around the circle giving the Hawks plenty of chance to defend successfullyr
So we were in for more suspense with 7 v. 7 tiebreakers, first goal wins. I don’t like them. The players have already played a regulation match and are exhausted and the open field greatly favors the offense. In the first ten minutes both teams had opportunities but neither scored. A minute and a half into the second, OSU penetrated the Iowa circle. Magnotta came out and collided with the Buckeye shooter and asked for a video review. Fortunately for Iowa, the Buckeyes were awarded a penalty corner, not a stroke. Krebs’ shot went wide right. I barely sighed with relief when the Buckeyes took back possession and MacKenna Webster broke straight into the Iowa circle and easily put the ball into the goal. I could almost feel the Hawkeye fans around me delating like burst balloons, after all this struggle the final match was lost.

But surprises weren’t over. The officials called for a video review. From the bleachers we couldn’t see what happened, but later watching the replay we learned the whole story. One of the commentators for Ohio State was perhaps the best I have ever heard covering an NCAA match, an extremely experienced hockey umpire named Gus Soterides and he noticed the expression on Webster’s face as she turned towards her teammates after the ball went into the goal, a kind of smirk as if she got away with something. Seen from the camera behind the goal on replay, it was obvious; the ball had struck Webster’s thigh before she hit it into the goal. I cannot imagine any athlete at this level having the class to raise her hand and say “no goal, it hit my leg”; in the end what the umpire called is what happened. But here justice was done. Across the pitch we could hear deafening roars from the Iowa bench. Now the Hawks were on the attack after that near-death experience and halfway through the overtime period van Aalsum scored to give the victory to Iowa. Personally listening to the replay I agreed with the opinion I later heard Soterides offer, that neither team deserved to lose—a draw was the only fair result. But of Iowa, it was pleasant and very hard won finish to their regulation season. They would be tied with the Maryland Terrapins for second in the Big Ten as they went into the Tournament.