No. 3 Iowa Edges Ohio State in Home Opener, 2-1

Friday, March 19

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

(0-4)

Iowa

(6-1)

Iowa

Ohio State

No. 3 Iowa Edges Ohio State in Home Opener, 2-1

3/19/2021 5:11:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State battled the No. 3 team in the country toe to toe on Friday, falling 2-1 in the game that was tightly contested for a full 60 minutes. The Hawkeyes scored two first-quarter goals but didn't find the scoreboard for the final 45:56 of regulation. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, scored a fourth quarter goal by Mackenzie Allessie to draw to within one, but couldn't find the equalizer.

With the loss, the Buckeyes fall to 0-4 on the season. Iowa, ranked No. 3 in this week's National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, is 6-1.

"This was a competitive and hard-fought Big Ten hockey game," said head coach Jarred Martin. "Credit to Iowa and the win today. They are well structured and disciplined. We knew generating attack was going to be a team effort. I thought the second half we were much more threatening and creative. We were also able to tighten things up defensively. We can build off that as we continue to get better every week."

The Buckeyes made a change in goal on Friday, giving the starting nod to freshman Abby Danson. The Clifton Park, N.Y. native made saves in each quarter, finishing with a total of nine and keeping the Buckeyes in the game with her play on the back end.

Offensively, much of the game was played – especially over the first quarter – was played in Iowa's zone. The game's first goal came from Nikki Freeman, who tipped in a shot from the top of the circle. Anthe Nijziel and Elle Holley were credited with assists on the play.

Seven minutes later, Maddy Murphy redirected a crossing pass into the goal that came in from Holly, who finished the game with two assists.

For there, however, Iowa was held off the scoreboard. Ohio State generated two shots in the second quarter and none in the third, but its only fourth-quarter shot was converted into a goal by Allessie. After receiving an entry pass from Nikki Trzaska, Allessie worked the ball around the goalkeeper and shot from close range.

For Allessie, who led the team in both goals and points last year, it was her first score of the season. Trzaska has two assists on the season.

After drawing three times as many corners as its opponents over the first three games of the season (22 to 7), Ohio State was held to just one corner on the game, which came in the second quarter. Iowa had four, but none in the second half.

"We have played three top 10 teams in the country so far this season and shown some great periods where we controlled play and generated some really good hockey," said Martin. "The focus for us now is extending those periods and sustaining our game. We need to continue to trust ourselves and work together. That's when we are at our best and it's really fun to watch."

Ohio State and Iowa finish with their two-game weekend series Sunday at noon. The game will be available live on BTN Plus.

"It was great being home at Buckeye Varsity Field and I want to give credit to all the people that helped make this home opener run so smoothly – our Game Day Operations, Facilities, and Tech Crew," said Martin.