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Hawkeye field hockey has positive showing in annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge
After splitting its first weekend, Iowa field hockey coach Lisa Cellucci feels confident knowing what needs improvement against top-ranked programs
Aug. 31, 2025 6:21 pm
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IOWA CITY — Iowa field hockey walked away from its season-opening weekend with a 1-1 record.
That’s just what head coach Lisa Cellucci hoped for.
“That's the real positive here,” she said.
The No. 15 ranked Hawkeyes have spent decades playing in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge to start their season. Every year, it’s always about learning what kind of team Iowa will be.
Cellucci saw overwhelming grit in Iowa’s 5-4 comeback win over No. 20 Wake Forest on Friday. She saw more flaws during Sunday’s 4-1 loss to No. 2 North Carolina, but it all looked fixable.
Friday’s win bolstered the Hawkeyes’ streak against the Demon Deacons, now winning 13 of the last 14 meetings. Iowa came back from two goals down to win the game off an unassisted goal with less than two minutes remaining.
The Tar Heels, however, were a much tougher task. After Iowa scored the opening goal, North Carolina scored four unanswered goals to win challenge weekend.
The Hawkeyes had more shots on goal, and the same number of penalty corners. The opportunity to upset the No. 2 team was there, but passing details and midfield transitions halted that hope.
“I think our frustration tolerance, even mine, all over the field could have been better today,” Cellucci said. “But that's because we know we have such a high capacity for potential, and we didn't show it through the 60 minutes.”
Falling to North Carolina — especially in the early season — won’t impact Iowa’s NCAA chances later this fall. The Hawkeyes will have chances against ranked Big Ten opponents like Maryland, Michigan and Penn State.
Iowa has been ranked for 94 consecutive weeks, going back to the 2016 season. Despite an even 9-9 record last year, the team had wins over Ohio State, Penn State and Wake Forest — all of whom were also ranked.
The Hawkeyes’ lengthy history as a nationally recognized field hockey program has created a standard. Just a few years ago, Iowa was in the NCAA semifinals.
Cellucci, now in her 12th season leading the Hawkeyes, knows how to lead a program. After splitting this opening weekend, she’s already got a plan for what Iowa needs to do next.
“It's managing pressure and managing our frustration,” Cellucci said. “We have to stay connected and just we have great chemistry on this team.”
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