7 November 2026 First Round BIG Tournament

Seedings in the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament meant little this year. Except for the Northwestern Wildcats, who had a bye because they won the seasonal championship, the rest of the field were equal, as shown by the first two matches, where Michigan beat Rutgers 2-1 in a second overtime, and seventh seeded Ohio State beat second seeded Maryland 2-1. I had been at the pitch since late morning to watch these two matches, feeling rather conspicuous in my black and gold Hawkeye kit, and feeling a trifle hungry, having breakfasted early before I set out on a small tub of yoghurt and a minuscule bagel with olive oil. The venue made us plebs who weren’t Big Ten officials park more than a half mile away and at my age I didn’t feel like walking a mile and half to the car for a snack—next time I’ll pack my own food–the overpriced hot dogs and sodas at the Indiana concession stand had little appeal, and the fast would be good for my figure. And as the late autumn afternoon stretched into evening, it was time for our event, the encounter with Indiana. The Hawkeyes beat the Hoosiers twice last September (a weekend in Bloomington I skipped in person, though I wrote my reports from the online videos), but those were tough matches and subsequent Indiana victories over Maryland, Penn State, and Ohio State showed they were a strong team who would give us a good match.

The Hawks were quick out of the chute. It took but a minute to get their first penalty corner. Zonnenberg injected to van Aalsum. The Hoosier flyer blocked her shot but Iowa got another corner. Again van Aalsum was blocked but Jordan Byers, the stopper, took another shot, also blocked. Then in the fifth minute, The Hoosiers counter-attacked aggressively threatening the Iowa circle as play went back and forth. But in the fifth minute Gia Whalen took the ball into the Indiana circle and a melee in the Ugly Zone in front of the goal gave Iowa another penalty corner. Van Aalsum’s first shot was blocked but Iowa was given another penalty corner. Van Aalsum took the injection but ran the ball into the circle. As she was preparing to shoot, she was obstructed by a Hoosier. The third penalty corner was the charm, and van Aalsum scored, assisted by the injector de Jong and the stopper Byers. (Those assists are not just formalities; for a penalty corner routine to work, all three must be perfectly coordinated, which the injection fast and precise, the trap and placement of the ball perfect, and the shot well-placed and too fast for the goalkeeper to reach it. No surprise that at NCAA Div 1 level even very good teams convert only one goal in five.) A one-goal lead with fifty-four minutes to go in the match is a knife-edge advantage in hockey, where you’re never more than 17 seconds from a possible goal. Four minutes later, the Hoosiers got their chance with a shot from Garcia Prado, but Mia Magnotta made the save. Indiana soon penetrated the circle again and got a Penalty corner, but they tried a tricky routine and the Iowa flyers sent the ball bouncing about the circle and made the clearance.

The second quarter began with vigorous Hoosier counter-attacks and circle penetrations. At seven minute Hoosier Molly Stutte made a shot at goal but Magnotta easily kicked it aside. The momentum remained with the Hoosiers, who continued to press and invaded the Hawkeye circle several times but with no shots. In the last minutes it was Iowa’s turn to move into Indiana territory but failed to find any chances to shoot and at the half the narrow margin was unaltered. Play had been very even despite Iowa’s lead in Penalty corners; most were repeats when the defenders fouled attempting to clear. Each side had but on shot on goal; the difference was that Iowa scored.

Not two minutes into the third quarter, Iowa got another penalty corner and van Aalsum shot went over the backline of the stick of the an Indiana defender for another opportunity for Iowa. This time the injection bounced of the stick of van Aalsum’s stopper Rachel Herbine (whose parents have been most keeping me fed at the Iowa tailgates this season), but Rachel kept her composure, got control of the ball and passed to van Aalsum, whose shot ended up in a melee in front of the goal and another Penalty corner and a shot by Herbine the was saved by the goalkeeper. Indiana weathered the Iowa storm and later in the half Arroyo Cabezudo got off a shot easily saved by Magnotta. Though scoreless, it was a very physical and exciting quarter, but the melee was not confined to the pitch. Very noisy Indiana fans packed the stands and cheered loudly with the Indiana mascot with what looked like the head of a buffalo leading. Someone was breathing a big drum and two rows in front and blocking our view a fat fan was standing up and continually ringing a cowbell. As I watch hockey with the attention and demeanor of a spectator at a chess tournament, I was displeased indeed but comforted by our being in the lead. But as Joe Parker, the Iowa assistant athletic director, was favoring me with his presence beside me, I maintained a calm mien. Then, in the last minutes, Arroyo Cabezzudo penetrated the Iowa circle and got off a shot, but it was vigorously kicked away by Magnotta.

A minute into the final quarter the Hoosiers had a chance to equalize with a Penalty corner but Kiwi Emma Thompson’s shot was blocked and rebounded to midfield. Then possession went to the Hawks,.Van Cleef took the ball into the Indiana circle but her shot was blocked. Then Indiana returned to the Iowa circle but a weak shot from forward Kiki Oomens was blocked while the Hoosier fans screamed like fiends from the Pit. Indiana was not through. Halfway into the quarter, Ines Garcia Parado broke into the circle but her shot went across the face of goal with no one to deflect. At the last five minutes, Indiana pulled their goal to substitute an extra field player. TheHoosiers swarmed at the Iowa circle, Arroyo Cabezuo dived into the middle reaching out with her stick on the ball and got off her shot as she fell to the turf, but it went wide to the left of the goal. Play went back and forth, Indiana had one more circle penetration and Iowa threatened the now open Indiana goal but in the final seconds Iowa had possession and the match. Iowa would go the semi-finals.