Ohio State
Iowa
Road Tests Await This Weekend at No. 1 Iowa and Indiana
9/26/2023 3:53:00 PM | General, Field Hockey
Buckeyes and Hawkeyes feature two of the nation's top offenses
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Over the first month of the season, the Ohio State field hockey team has proven it can win at home. It's 5-1 record at Buckeye Varsity Field is proof of that. Now, a new test awaits – winning on the road. The Buckeyes take that exam this weekend when they travel to No. 1 Iowa on Friday and Indiana on Sunday. Both games will be streamed live on B1G+.
The Basics
No. 11 Ohio State at No. 1 Iowa // Friday, Sept. 29 // 4 p.m. ET // Grant Field; Iowa City, Iowa
Watch Live: B1G+ // Live Stats // Ohio State Schedule/Results // Iowa Schedule/Results
No. 11 Ohio State at Indiana // Sunday, Oct. 1 // Noon // Deborah Tobias Field; Bloomington, Ind.
Watch Live: B1G+ // Live Stats // Ohio State Schedule/Results // Indiana Schedule/Results
Briefly on the Buckeyes
- After splitting it home games last weekend vs. No. 3 Northwestern and Ohio, the Buckeyes moved up one spot in the NFHCA poll this week to No. 11.
- Ohio State's offense continued to hum along, scoring six goals in two games last weekend. The Buckeyes are fourth nationally in goals-per-game average (3.64).
- Makenna Webster is not only Ohio State's leading scorer (32 points), but she also ranks second in the Big Ten in points per game (2.91), third in goals per game (1.18) and seventh in assists per game (0.55). She has at least one goal in eight of 11 games this season.
- A pair of newcomers – freshman Brenna Bough and graduate student Julie Rodijk – are tied for second on the team with 14 points. Both of them have six goals and two assists.
- The defense consists of senior goalkeeper Abby Danson with Delaney Lawler, Katie Fichtner and Sarah Richards in front of her.
- Danson has a 1.31 goals-against average and last Friday made a season-high eight saves versus No. 3 Northwestern.
Scouting Iowa
- The Hawkeyes are one of just two undefeated teams left in the country (9-0). They won their Big Ten opener last Friday at Michigan, 2-0.
- Iowa possesses the nation's top scoring offense at 4.56 goals scored per game. Leading that attack is Dionne van Aalsum, a freshman from the Netherlands who is the nation's leading scorer with 21 goals and 46 points.
- In goal, Mia Magnotta has started all nine games this season and has allowed just three total goals. Her 0.33 goals-against average and .857 save percentage are among the best in the Big Ten and the country.
Scouting Indiana
- Indiana enters the weekend with a 4-5 overall record and 0-2 mark in Big Ten play following conference losses to Northwestern and Michigan State.
- The Hoosiers face No. 15 Michigan at home on Friday before the Buckeyes come to Bloomington on Sunday.
- Graduate student Sarah Charley, who spent four years at Ohio State from 2019-22, is IU's leading scorer with 11 points (four goals, three assists).
- Charley, a Worthington, Ohio native, played in 71 career games at Ohio State and scored 25 goals. Last year, her 26 points and 12 goals were the most on the team.
Strength Against Strength
- Friday's game at Iowa will feature two of the nation's top offenses. The Hawkeyes rank first in goals per game (4.56), points per game (12.33) and scoring margin (+4.23).
- Meanwhile, Ohio State is fourth in goals per game (3.64), first in penalty corners to per game (10.00) and fourth in scoring margin (+2.28)
- Iowa has scored four goals or more in a game five times; Ohio State has done so six times.
- Individually, two of the nation's top point producers will be on display: Dionne van Aalsum of Iowa is first at 5.11 points per game while Makenna Webster is fourth (2.91 points/game).
