After dropping its first two conference games to Northwestern and Iowa, then losing last weekend to Miami University, IU field hockey entered this afternoon's game at No. 23 Ohio State looking for a positive swing of momentum.
However, after a late penalty corner shot went into the net but was too high to count, the Buckeyes escaped with a 1-0 victory to extend IU's current streak to four games.
Overall, IU has now lost its last 16 conference games.
Even with the loss, IU Coach Amanda Janney Misselhorn said she saw improvements from previous matches.
“Our center-mids played better to shut down their center-mids,” Janney Misselhorn said. “I thought that really improved, as Ohio State had pretty talented center-mids. I thought we did a good job to keep them quiet today.”
Janney Misselhorn said she felt as if she saw leaders step up at each line for IU on Friday, even if the Hoosiers failed to score.
She singled out freshman forward Hailey Couch and graduate back Elle Hempt as two of the team's best performers.
“I thought Hailey played a great game today, she was a big spark for us,” Janney Misselhorn said. “I also think Elle played fantastic, she made a ton of saves in the backfield. She was all over the place, diving, making plays.”
During the first half of Friday's contest, the Buckeyes outshot the Hoosiers 10-1.
Ohio State senior midfielder Casey Cole scored late in the first half on a goal that deflected off Hempt and into the net.
IU remained one goal down throughout the second half, with the late penalty corner opportunity the closest the Hoosiers would come to scoring.
“I thought the team fought hard to get back in the second half,” Janney Misselhorn said. “On the boards, it is nice we drew a corner in the second half and gave ourselves the opportunity to tie it up.”
The loss moved the Hoosiers to 2-8 overall and 0-3 in conference play on the season.
IU will continue its conference road trip with a 1 p.m. match Sunday against No. 6 Michigan in Ann Arbor.
