Nobody wants to lose on Senior Day.
And as unjust as it may seem, even some of the best classes are sent off with a loss in their home finale.
The Iowa field-hockey team’s 2010 graduating class experienced that, falling to No. 14 Louisville, 2-0, on Sunday.
“Coming into [the game] we were all really excited,” senior Jess Werley said. “We’ve just had a hard time at home this year, but we came out with heart. It was just tough.”
But a final loss at Grant Field isn’t nearly enough to rub out the mark that the class will leave behind.
The trio has combined to start in 234 out of 237 career games, helping Iowa to three-consecutive Big Ten Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. The trio also started on last year’s Final Four squad.
Still, as Iowa head coach Tracey Griesbaum attested, their impact goes beyond the numbers.
“[The seniors] have been incredible,” she said. “Since they made their verbal commitments, it changed a lot about our program.”
The seniors have seen their roles as players steadily evolve since arriving on campus. Griesbaum described the three as Iowa’s “X-factor” as younger players — not always the focal point but having a direct impact.
This season, the three have emerged as the core of the Hawkeye attack — their point totals are three of Iowa’s four highest this year. Beamesderfer, Dean, and Werley have combined to tally 19 goals and nine assists.
Stats aside, the most valuable trait of this year’s senior class may be their coachability.
“They’ve been a complete joy [to coach].” Griesbaum said. “They might hide it, but they never look like they don’t want to be somewhere. They really invest a lot into [the program]. Just from hustling on the field, doing well in school. Everything that they do, they take a lot of pride in.”
The trio hasn’t heard their swan song yet. Iowa’s regular season will conclude this weekend with games against James Madison and American in Washington, D.C. The Hawkeyes will then travel to East Lansing, Mich., for the Big Ten Tournament starting Nov. 5.
Still, after playing their final game at Grant Field, it was hard for the seniors to completely suppress their emotions.
“[It’s been] absolutely incredible to be here,” Beamesderfer said. “I think we’ve been through every up and down situation possible. We’ve won three Big Ten Tournaments and went to the Final Four. I couldn’t really ask for anything else.”