No. 24 Hawkeyes Outlast Hoosiers, 4-3

Friday, September 29

Iowa City, IA

4 PM

Indiana University

(5-6 (0-3))

Iowa

(5-7 (1-3))

Indiana

IOWA

9/29/2017 6:25:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Latino strikes twice for fifth time in her career

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Indiana's field hockey team fell short on the score line in a wild outing at Grant Field, 4-3 against No. 24 Iowa. The Hoosiers (5-6, 0-3) and Hawkeyes (5-7, 1-3) gave the fans and Big Ten Network everything they asked for as the sides battled for their first Big Ten win.

"We're still playing a lot of people in different positions and trying to work things out," said Indiana coach Amanda Janney. "We had a lot of players step up today when called upon, and I was pleased with the response in the second half. We talked at halftime about some major fixes we needed, and we came out more aggressive in the second half."

Senior Maddie Latino scored twice in the valiant effort, ascending to a tie for fifth-place with Kayla Bashore (2001-03, 2005) on Indiana's all-time career scoring list. Freshman Rylee Pearson opened her career account with her first score of the year in the first half. The Hoosiers placed five-of-seven shots on frame as a team.

The Hawkeyes applied pressure early in the contest and broke the tie after 14 minutes. Iowa's Mya Christopher tipped a long hit into the netting to take a 1-0 lead.

Rylee Pearson and the Hoosiers answered in the 22^nd minute with a smooth delivery into the boards. Maddie Latino fired the initial shot inside the circle that met a kick save. Pearson collected the rebound, took a touch to her left, and drilled her first career goal across the circle into the lower-left corner.

"She gets outcomes and makes things happen whenever she gets the ball," Janney said of Pearson, whose performance extended beyond the score. "It's great to see her rewarded with her first collegiate goal, and that was a really beautiful and difficult shot that she made, a great spark for us."

Iowa regained the advantage on their home turf just before the break with a penalty corner as time expired. Hawkeye sophomore Katie Birch broke the tie on a right side shot from the top of the circle.

The Hoosiers entered the second half in a flurry and wasted little time before finding another score. Latino collected a 43^rd minute deflection inside the circle and dove to redirect it behind the goalkeeper in signature fashion.

The Hawkeyes pulled ahead once again on a penalty stroke with 20 minutes remaining. They drew the stroke as the ball touched a Hoosier on its way across the goal line, and Birch lifted her attempt into the top netting for a 3-2 lead.

Back and forth went the Hoosiers and Hawkeyes, as Indiana answered Iowa's third lead-taking goal with their third equalizer. Latino one-timed Sam Scire's flick to the center of the circle for her eighth of the year and second in the game.

With 10 minutes to play, Iowa earned the decisive game-winner. The Hawkeyes earned a penalty corner and sent the hit into goal, courtesy of Birch.

Indiana kept up the fight to the end. Latino had her eye on a hat trick on a 68^th minute shot attempt, entered by Taylor Swope, but the goalkeeper's tip sent the attempt off target. The Hoosiers also earned a corner as time expired in the second half as Ciara Girouard's hit caught a block.

"I hope this builds our confidence that we can recognize our team strengths," said Janney. "We did a great job to create some dynamic scoring opportunities. Giving up corner goals is something we have to limit in the future, but scoring three goals against a solid team is a good sign for us."

Indiana (5-6, 0-3) at Saint Louis (3-7, 0-4)
Sunday, Oct. 1 • 1:00 p.m. ET • St. Louis, Mo. • SportPort International
Live Stats • @HoosiersFH on Twitter

The Hoosiers head to the Gateway for a showdown at SportPort International against Saint Louis. The Sunday afternoon turf action serves as a homecoming of sorts for Woods (St. Louis) and Urbanek (Edwardsville, Ill.), who played on the SportPort turf during their prep club careers.

The Billikens were in action on Friday as well, dropping a 2-0 result to Saint Francis (Pa.) on the road.

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