Since its Aug. 20 exhibition game in Oxford, Ohio, Indiana and Miami University field hockey teams have gone in opposite directions. The Hoosiers entered the showdown 5-6 overall and 0-3 in conference, while the RedHawks were 8-4 overall and 4-1 in the Mid-American Conference.
This difference was seen on the field in the fourth quarter after a 58th-minute goal by freshman midfielder Malena Sabez pushed Miami into a late 3-2 lead and the win.
Neither team could score in the first quarter, even after Indiana had two shots and Miami had three. Senior midfielder Riley Mazzalupi had a shot on goal for Miami in the third minute, but her chance was stopped by sophomore goalkeeper Sadie Canelli. The RedHawks received a penalty corner in the eighth minute. Sabez had two shot attempts, but both were stopped.
Indiana started the second quarter on the attack with shots in the 17th and 21st minutes. The attempts by sophomore forwards Charlotte Glasper and Mijntje Hagen did not find the back of the net. The Hoosiers received two penalty corners in the 30th minute. Miami blocked both shots by junior back Hannah Riddle and freshman forward Celia Arroyo Cabezudo off the corners.
Freshman forward Kiki Oomens also had chances in the 30th minute. Her first shot was blocked, and Miami senior goalkeeper Nicky Sjouken saved her second shot attempt.
Indiana was productive on offense and defense in the second quarter. The Hoosiers did not allow a shot or penalty corner but could not score after having six shots before halftime. Indiana continued its shooting in the third quarter, however, Miami scored before Indiana could.
The RedHawks were finally able to get on the scoreboard in the 34th minute with a goal from freshman midfielder Justina Intzes that was assisted by freshman forward Bet Gifra. Intzes is tied with Sabez for first in team goals with 13 scores for the RedHawks.
It took Indiana just over two minutes to tie the game at 1-1. In the 36th minute, junior midfielder Inés Garcia Prado set up junior forward Theresa Ricci for the game-tying goal.
However, the goal made Indiana neglect the defensive end. Miami took a quick 2-1 lead in the 37th minute with a goal by graduate back Berta Mata, her fifth this year.
The goal scoring from both teams continued in the third quarter. Sixteen seconds before the buzzer sounded in the 45th minute, Riddle scored her fourth goal of the season and her first since a 5-1 win over Saint Francis University on Sept. 14.
The momentum did not carry over into the fourth quarter for Indiana, as the Hoosier offense went cold in the final quarter. Indiana did not produce a shot or penalty corner. The RedHawks had nine shots in the final frame with six of those attempts on goal.
Indiana’s defense did not help Canelli, as the Hoosiers gave up seven penalty corners in the quarter and eight overall. The RedHawks had five shots between the 47th and 50th minutes, with three of them being on goal and one hitting the post.
The shots kept coming against Indiana. The Hoosiers gave up three attempts in the 57th minute. Miami also had three penalty corners in the 57th and 58th minutes. The third one hurt Indiana. Junior back Kylie Coughlin inserted the ball, and Mata set Sabez up for the game-winning goal in the 58th minute.
After the goal, Indiana pulled Canelli, who finished the game with seven saves. The Hoosiers then went on a two-player advantage after a yellow card on Gifra in the 59th minute, but they could not get a shot off.
Indiana stays on the road next weekend with games at Maryland and Penn State. Friday’s showdown against the Terrapins will begin at 4 p.m. and Sunday’s game against the Nittany Lions will start at 11 a.m. Both games will be streamed on Big Ten+.
Follow reporter Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07 and semcavoy@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana field hockey season.
