IU field hockey’s determination and efforts were not enough Friday to post a positive conference record this season, dropping its matchup against Ohio State on senior day.
The Hoosiers were favorites to win but ineffectiveness when creating chances and finalizing them kept them away from it losing to the Buckeyes 1-0.
“We did a really good job getting some corners at the end,” junior forward Maddie Latino said. “I think just executing on them simply. We definitely had our opportunities and our chances to go up in the game.”
From the start of the game it was Ohio State who began creating shot opportunities. In the 24th minute Buckeye midfielder Esther Clotet-Alsina flicked a shot to the left corner of the net to beat IU sophomore goalie Noëlle Rother.
On the other hand IU was not able to get to Ohio State’s circle a lot during the first half and only was awarded one penalty corner in the entire half.
This would change in the second half when the Hoosiers came out searching for that equalizing goal with much more determination and intensity.
IU forwards junior Taylor Pearson and freshman Ciara Girouard began pressing Ohio State’s backline and pushing the ball forward in order to find the tying goal, but the Hoosiers were not able to execute it.
During the final moments of the game IU had an offensive penalty corner that ended in the back of the net after a strong shot by senior defender Kate Barber. However, the goal was ruled too high and did not count on the scoreboard.
Since it was the last game seniors would be playing at IU’s Field Hockey Complex, the team aims to recover in the final two games of the regular season.
“The seniors have done tremendous things for this program,” Latino said. “Like all four of them have really take this program above and beyond the past couple of years and I think respecting that and hustling on and off the field will show how much we care and how much we respect them.”
IU has already qualified for the Big Ten tournament but will first have to go on the road for its final conference match of the season.
The Hoosiers will play No. 6 Penn State next weekend on the road followed by Syracuse where they will seek to end up the season over .500.
“We know Penn State has fast forwards and they are definitely an offensive team,” Latino said. “Taking video from this game into consideration, looking at what was right, what was wrong and what was fixable. That is going to help when we play top of the line teams like this.”
