The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Mixed statistical bag for field hockey

Iowa+forward+Mallory+Lefkowitz+and+Kent+State+midfielder+Jessica+Nesbitt+run+down+the+field+at+Grant+Field+on+Saturday%2C+Sept.+12%2C+2015.+The+Hawkeyes+defeated+the+Golden+Flashes+7-1.+%28The+Daily+Iowan%2FValerie+Burke%29
The Daily Iowan
Iowa forward Mallory Lefkowitz and Kent State midfielder Jessica Nesbitt run down the field at Grant Field on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015. The Hawkeyes defeated the Golden Flashes 7-1. (The Daily Iowan/Valerie Burke)

The Iowa field-hockey team’s numbers in conference play.
By Mario Williams

[email protected]

The Iowa field-hockey team has two conference games left in its regular schedule. The team is 9-7 overall, 2-4 in the Big Ten.

There are several telling statistics.

Total shots taken in last five conference games: 72

The Hawkeyes aren’t afraid to shoot the ball. It may be by shooting it directly to the goalkeeper in the circle or by earning penalty corners.

Most teams in the Big Ten love to shoot, in a more aggressive way, too. Iowa has done a solid job of executing down the field and taking shots, but the main problem this season though is that, yes they can rack up a number of shots, but those balls rarely find their way into the goal when they should. This is something Iowa head coach Lisa Cellucci has continued to practice with the Hawks.

The Hawkeyes have taken 251 shots this season, which ranks third in the Big Ten. Most of those shots come from the squad’s leading scorer, Stephanie Norlander, who averages 4.88 shots per game, good for second in the conference, and sophomore Veronique Declercq, who averages 4.13 shots per game, good for third in the conference. Watching these two players take rockets at the goal is always interesting, to say the least.

Iowa also achieved its highest number of shots taken in a game against a Big Ten opponent, 22, against Michigan State and Ohio State. The Hawks beat the Spartans, 3-1, but lost to the Buckeyes by the same score.

Hopefully, if the Hawkeyes continue to knock on the door, maybe it’ll finally open and more goals will come their way.

Goals given up in last five conference games: 15

When it comes to defense, Iowa has had a tough time. Whenever an opponent seems to be on the more aggressive side, the Hawkeyes tend to lose their confidence in the game and get fatigued, which leads to goals pouring in from their opponent.

Giving up 15 goals in its last five Big Ten games is a fair high number, but it all boils down to the lack of depth. Iowa’s roster contains a lot of youth, and it can be hard for the youngsters to defend more experienced, aggressive opponents in the conference. The core reason that Iowa has given up 15 goals is because on back-to-back weekends Northwestern and Michigan blew the team out, 4-0.

Assists per game: 2.88

Despite struggling on executing on goals and defending, Iowa has had done a solid job at ball control and ball movement on the field.

The team has collectively racked up 47 assists this season, good for second in the conference and only 8 assists behind undefeated Maryland. A big contributor to the number of assists is freshman Makenna Grewe.

She continues to lead the conference with assists with 11. The San Diego native was first even before the Hawkeyes began to compete against conference opponents.

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