The Ohio State field hockey team (8-6, 0-3) lost 2-0 to Iowa Saturday at Grant Field in Iowa City, Iowa, then rebounded for a 2-0 win over Pacific University Sunday.
Saturday’s match was a defensive battle for much of the first half, with both teams having less than 10 shots on goal. Iowa’s Caroline Blaum started the scoring with a goal at the 28:58 mark.
Iowa’s second goal came 49:58 into the second half when Margot McMahon received a pass from Sarah Dawson and slid it past goalie Lindsay Williams. Williams was credited with nine saves for the game.
The Buckeyes started off better against Pacific (4-9, 1-1 in the North Pacific), posting two goals in the first half. The first goal came at the 1:20 mark when sophomore forward Florencia Stier chipped in a pass from teammate Cammie Trainer.
“I think we changed our overall attitude,” Trainer said. “Everyone just looked like they were more relaxed and having fun out there.”
Stier was more willing to dispense praise rather than accept it.
“Cammie had a shot on goal, and the ball just touched her stick and came to me,” Stier said. “I really didn’t score the goal even though it was credited to me. But after losing on Saturday, our attitude changed. I feel like we really wanted to win, and we would do anything to do that.”
Freshman Yesenia Luces added an unassisted goal at 17:37, then let the defense do the rest. Williams recorded two saves, and earned the shutout, while the Buckeye defense allowed only two shots in the second half.
“We had to get our defense organized after the loss on Saturday,” OSU coach Anne Wilkinson said. “Once we got adjusted, our confidence shot through the roof.
“We have a lot of depth. We brough 17 players to this tournament, and we played 15 of them. I’m really pleased with the talent and effort of this team.”
The Buckeyes have yet to win back-to-back road games this season, although they have a 5-3 record away from home. They return to North Turf Field for a game against Northwestern Saturday and then travel to Ann Arbor for two games against Michigan Oct. 23 and a game against California on Oct. 24.
