What kind of opponent is best for a team looking to turn its season around?
The answer is debatable.
But most will agree that facing an eighth-ranked squad isn’t what leaps to mind.
That’s exactly what the Iowa field-hockey team (4-7, 1-2 Big Ten) will encounter today, though, when the Hawkeyes battle No. 8 Michigan State (11-3, 2-0) at Grant Field at 4 p.m.
The Spartans enter Iowa City poised to improve upon their spotless Big Ten record. Remaining undefeated in the conference won’t be the only thing on their minds — revenge will be, too.
Iowa defeated Michigan State on three occasions last season.
Twice the Spartans fell to the Hawkeyes in overtime, once in East Lansing, Mich., in the regular season, and once in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Iowa also knocked their conference rival out of the NCAA Tournament with a 1-0 victory in the second round.
When asked about the revenge scenario, Iowa head coach Tracey Griesbaum’s reply was simple: “[Michigan State] will want to tear us apart.”
It’s clear what the Hawkeyes will have to do to avoid being torn apart: score more goals.
In 11 games this season, the Hawkeyes have scored 31 goals — 12 of which came in a 12-0 dismantling of St. Louis in Iowa City on Sept. 19.
Griesbaum is well aware of what needs to be done.
“We need, overall, more possession in our game,” Griesbaum said. “Once we get [the ball] up in the front field, we need to sustain it — not just have it be a one and done opportunity. And as far as where the goals come from, we want to be able to look for shots first. Then if it’s not on, [look to] draw penalty corners.”
That Iowa has managed to compile a 4-7 record with a general lack of offense is a testament to the team’s defense, which hasn’t surrendered more than two goals in its last five games.
That defense, led by senior Meghan Beamesderfer, had another stout performance in Iowa’s most recent game — a 2-0 loss at Ohio State on Oct. 11.
“I think after this past weekend, that was one of our best games so far as a team, defensively,” Beamesderfer said. “We just need to carry that from our last game into this game.
A win against the highly ranked Spartans would also prove monumental in turning the Hawkeyes’ season around. Griesbaum knows the difficulty of the task awaiting her club, but said she is confident in her players.
“I do [think the team is ready for the challenge],” she said. “We definitely have some question marks that we have to take care of.
“We’re at that point where I think we could keep fighting, or we could turn our back and kind of succumb to things.”
