The No. 18 Iowa field-hockey team will travel to the Buckeye State this weekend for matches with Ohio State and Miami.

The Hawkeyes (8-5, 1-2) will ride a three-game winning streak into the matchup in Columbus at 2 p.m. today and Oxford at 11 a.m. Oct. 20.

For head coach Tracey Griesbaum’s squad, the momentum it carries into the weekend is helpful, but she wants her team to take each game individually.

“Let’s just stay grounded,” the 14-year head coach said. “Do our preparation, and the results will happen.”

Ohio State (4-8, 0-2) comes into the game having taken the least numbers of shots and scoring goals in the Big Ten, along with allowing the most goals of any team in the conference. The Hawkeyes rank fourth in shots, first in goals, and third in goals against.

“That’s good to know; it gives you some confidence,” Niki Schultheis said about Ohio State’s woes. “But on the other hand, that doesn’t automatically mean we are going to be dominating. We’re going to have to exploit it just by playing our game.”

Miami (7-6, 1-0) beat Ohio State on Sept. 18. Its record against Big Ten opponents is 2-3, and it has a 4-0 record at home.

— by Danny Payne