A fire-powered offensive display was on hand Saturday afternoon in Muncie, Indiana, as the Hoosier field hockey club scored five goals in their shutout scrimmage victory over Ball State University.
The matchup was the final game of the preseason before revving up for the start of the regular season on Friday Aug. 26 at home against Louisville.
IU got on the scoreboard early against the Cardinals and continued to keep their foot on the gas.
Three minutes into the match, junior forward Maddie Latino inserted a Hoosier penalty corner. Senior defender Kate Barber took the initial shot on goal coming out of the set play as Latino maneuvered toward the front of the net to tip in the ball, putting IU up 1-0.
The Hoosiers piled on the goals following the opening score, thanks to the stick of junior midfielder Taylor Pearson. After scoring just three goals last season, the Vancouver native recorded a hat trick in the scrimmage giving the Hoosiers a commanding 4-0 lead.
IU sealed the regulation period with a goal from freshman forward Sam Scire, assisted by Barber and Latino, and the Hoosiers took the 5-0 victory.
Following the first 70 minutes, the teams agreed to play an overtime period to prepare for the regular season. Pearson was back at it again, putting a reverse shot to the left side of the keeper to end overtime within the first minute of action.
The Hoosiers finished the clean sweep as the clubs decided to compete in a shootout following the brief overtime period. Pearson and Latino each found the back of the net again as IU won the shootout 2-1.
Zain Pyarali
