Indiana field hockey head coach Kayla Bashore enters her eighth season leading the Hoosiers, looking to build on a .500 record in 2025 with nine new recruits.
Although Indiana’s season ended in nine wins and the same number of losses , the Hoosiers earned impressive victories over then-No. 10 Maryland and then-No. 18 Ohio State, defeating both teams with 2-1 scores and showing Indiana could compete with some of the Big Ten's best programs.
No. 6 seeded Indiana's season came to an end in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament with a loss to No. 3 seed Iowa. With a nine-player recruiting class and several key returners, the Hoosiers turn their attention to the 2026 campaign in hopes of taking the next step forward.
Bashore signed a nine-player recruiting class consisting of Elle Obenour, Helen Grahe, Jessie Mauro, Elise Eves, Gabriela Garayo Aranceta, Karly Redman, Agustina Gamonal, Isa Smulders and Berta Sáenz de Santa María. The group features players from the United States, England, Germany, Spain, Chile and the Netherlands, with several bringing international and national team experience to Bloomington.
This recruiting class brings several accomplishments to Bloomington. Obenour finished her high school career with 50 goals and 22 assists in 70 games, while earning 2025 Blossom Valley Athletic League MVP honors and helping Leigh win back-to-back league championships.
Garayo Aranceta brings experience with the Spanish U18 National Team, helping the team finish first and second at the Six Nations Tournament.
Redman joins Indiana as a graduate transfer after earning 2025 MPSF Offensive Player of the Year honors at the University of California, Davis, where she scored eight goals in 16 starts. Smulders recorded seven consecutive clean sheets during the 2023-24 season with SCHC's U16 team.
Indiana also returns plenty of experience, including midfielder Inés Garcia Prado, who is coming off an impressive 2025 season. Garcia Prado scored seven goals and recorded nine assists last year. Forward/midfielder Charlotte Glasper returns after scoring seven goals and recording seven assists for the Hoosiers. Forward Mijntje Hagen returns as Indiana’s assist leader after recording 10 assists last season. Forward/midfielder Theresa Ricci, forward Celia Arroyo Cabezudo and forward/midfielder Molly Stutte also return after seeing significant minutes last season. In goal, Sadie Canelli, Kai Killian and Isa Smulders could all see minutes this season.
With a mix of returning experience and a nine-player recruiting class, the Hoosiers got their first test of the 2026 season when they hosted Miami (Ohio). The RedHawks had a historic run to the Elite Eight last year, in an exhibition match on Aug. 14 at Deborah Tobias Field.
The exhibition consisted of four periods, followed by a fifth period to simulate overtime. The teams then participated in a shootout.
Two first-year players, Garayo Aranceta and Smulders, were part of the starting eleven for Indiana, who struggled to capitalize on opportunities throughout the game. The RedHawks took a 1-0 lead with one second remaining in the first half on a penalty corner and held through the rest of regulation, despite Indiana holding advantages in shots on goal, 7-4, and penalty corners, 10-4. During the overtime period, neither team scored, while in the penalty shootout, Indiana bested Miami (Ohio) 5-3.
They’ll conclude their exhibition slate when they travel to Muncie, Indiana, to face Ball State on Aug. 20.
Indiana will face familiar Big Ten opponents throughout the 2026 season, including Iowa and Northwestern — two teams the Hoosiers struggled against last season. Indiana will also look to build on its wins over Maryland and Ohio State from 2025. The Hoosiers will have many opportunities throughout the season to prove they belong in the upper echelon of the Big Ten.
The Cream and Crimson will officially open the regular season on Aug. 29 against Miami (Ohio) in Louisville, Kentucky. The matchup starts Indiana's 16-game regular-season schedule as the Hoosiers look to build on last season's 9-9 record.
Indiana will return to Deborah Tobias Field on Sept. 4 against the University of New Hampshire.
Follow reporter Jack Davis (@JackDavis0006 and jjd5@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana field hockey season.
