Entering its final regular season game of the season, Indiana field hockey is riding a four-game win streak in the Big Ten.
“We feel like we’re really flowing right now,” Indiana head coach Kayla Bashore said postgame after the Hoosiers defeated Michigan State 6-1 on Oct. 26. “People are hitting their strides, and we’re sort of peaking at the right time. I’m excited to finish it out strong in the last game.”
The dominant win over the Spartans moved Indiana up to a tie with No. 10 Iowa for third in the conference standings. After starting 0-3 in the Big Ten, Indiana has rattled off wins over then-No. 10 Maryland on Oct. 17, Penn State on Oct. 19 and then-No. 18 Ohio State on Oct. 24.
Michigan (8-6, 3-4 Big Ten) enters the Halloween showdown trending the wrong way with three consecutive away losses. The last time the Wolverines played at Phyllis Ocker Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan, they defeated then-No. 15 Rutgers 2-1 on Oct. 5. Michigan will be looking for revenge on its senior day, as Indiana upset the Wolverines 2-1 on Oct. 27, 2024, spoiling the senior celebration last season.
Meet the Wolverines
Michigan is ranked No. 21 on the NCAA’s Rating Percentage Index, while Indiana comes in at No. 30. The Wolverines own a 5-24 historical record over the Hoosiers, but Indiana has seen more success away from home. The Cream and Crimson are 4-10 in Ann Arbor and 1-11 in Bloomington.
Michigan ranks eighth in the Big Ten with 101 shots on goal, turning its attempts into a sixth-best 35 goals. The Wolverines have an unselfish offense, as they have created 33 assists on their goals.
However, the Wolverines’ defense has shut down most competition this season. Michigan has only given up 1.36 goals and 9.1 shots per game to opponents, while they have 2.5 goals and 14.4 shots per game.
The Wolverines’ offense is led by graduate forward/midfielder Abby Tamer. She has a team-high seven goals, 16 points and 20 shots on goal this season. Eleven other Michigan players have scored at least one goal this season, with junior forward Juliette Manzur having a second-best five goals to go with five assists. However, Manzur has not played in the last two games.
Michigan uses a goalkeeping tandem with redshirt sophomore Hala Silverstein and graduate Caylie McMahon. Silverstein has started all 14 games and played 420 total minutes this season, while McMahon has also seen action in every contest and has played 404 minutes. The pair has combined for a 1.31 goals-against average — which ranks third in the Big Ten — and a 73.5% save percentage.
Indiana notes
The Hoosiers’ win streak saw them move up three spots to No. 17 in this week’s National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll. It is the highest ranking during the seven-season coach Bashore era after she took over the program in January 2019.
Indiana’s 4-3 conference record clinched the Cream and Crimson a spot in the Big Ten Tournament. The Hoosiers have not made back-to-back appearances in postseason play since the 2020-21 seasons.
Freshman forward Celia Arroyo Cabezudo was also recognized by the Big Ten this week after two goals and an assist last weekend. The Freshman of the Week recipient has a team-high eight goals this season, which ranks eighth in the conference.
Along with Arroyo Cabezudo, junior midfielder Inés Garcia Prado, sophomore forward/midfielder Charlotte Glasper and freshman forward/midfielder Molly Stutte all increased their goal totals to seven during the Hoosiers’ win over Michigan State.
Sophomore goalkeeper Sadie Canelli has been a bright spot during the Indiana win streak. Since owning a 2.32 goals-against average before the game against Maryland, Canelli’s stellar play — including tying her career high in saves against Ohio State — has brought the number down to 1.86.
Friday’s matchup will be at 5 p.m. and streamed on Big Ten+. The game will be the last action for Indiana until they return home to Deborah Tobias Field for the Big Ten Tournament next week on Nov. 6-9.
Follow reporter Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07 and semcavoy@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana field hockey season.
