The University of Iowa field hockey squad, ranked eleventh, pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory over seventh‑seeded Wake Forest in sudden‑victory overtime on Saturday night, delivering a dramatic finish that will be remembered for weeks to come.
Wake Forest struck first, with Ava Moore opening the scoring at 4:40, followed by goals from Bianca Rees‑Gibbs at 12:39 and Rory Heslin at 21:52, building a 3‑0 lead that seemed to put the game out of reach.
Iowa answered back in the second half, as Fréderique van Cleef found the net at 42:35 and Dionne van Aalsum narrowed the gap shortly thereafter, shifting momentum and energizing the Hawkeyes' bench.
A Comeback for the Ages
The rally continued when Meg Tebben, a first‑year player, scored her first collegiate goal at 51:34 to knot the game, sending it into overtime and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
In sudden victory, Reine van Hoof delivered the decisive strike at 66:46, sealing a 4‑3 win and sparking celebration among the Hawkeyes, who finished the night with a perfect blend of grit and skill.
Head coach Lisa Cellucci praised the team's resilience, noting that the comeback exemplified the program's culture of perseverance and highlighted the contributions of every player who stepped onto the field.
The victory marks Iowa’s seventh straight win over Wake Forest and extends their unbeaten streak to nine season openers, underscoring the program's consistency and depth.
Looking ahead, the Hawkeyes travel to Winston‑Salem to face second‑ranked North Carolina on Sunday at 10 a.m. Central, a match streamable on ACCNX and ESPN+ that promises another exciting chapter in their early season story.