50 Iowa moments since Title IX: Kristy Gleason sets NCAA record for American women, wins Honda Sports Award

Editor’s note: This is fourth in a series counting down the top 50 moments in Iowa Hawkeyes women’s athletics history in the 50 days leading up to the 50th anniversary of Title IX in June.

Going into her senior season of field hockey in 1993, Kristy Gleason was no stranger to accolades.

She was already a three-time All-American, Iowa’s all-time leader in goals and the reigning Big Ten Athlete of the Year.

But 1993 gave her the chance to add a few more accomplishments.

Gleason broke the record for most goals at the Division I level by an American woman with her 19th goal of the season and 118th goal of her career.

"It was quite a moment,” Gleason said. “It was more important that we won the game.”

She finished the year with 132 career goals. After learning the record still stands today, Gleason said she “got goosebumps.”

Following her record-breaking season, she became the first Iowa field hockey player to receive a Honda Sports Award. In the 28 years since then, Gleason has had more time to let winning the award sink in.

“I was thankful and grateful, but as a young lady, but I think that I expected so much of myself,” Gleason said. “It was just part and parcel of trying to do the best I could every day.“

The year she won the Honda Sports Award and broke the NCAA record was also quite the year for the Hawkeyes.

The Hawkeyes earned a trip to the Final Four — the fourth berth during Gleason’s time in Iowa City.

It wasn’t just because of Gleason’s goal scoring either. The defense behind her had a program-record 16 shutouts and only 10 goals allowed in 22 games.

The Final Four, not the awards, is most important to Gleason, who now is a professional golf instructor.

“The Final Four was what we worked for every year,” Gleason said. “So it was surreal.”

Gleason, who became a four-time All-American after that season, remains the only Honda Sports Award recipient in Iowa field hockey history.

Several people have come close to joining her, though, including Maddy Murphy in 2021.

Gleason hopes another Hawkeye receives the award and is confident it’ll happen soon, especially under the “tutelage” of current head coach Lisa Cellucci.

“That would be absolutely awesome,” Gleason said. "It’s just a matter of time.“

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