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Iowa Knocks Off No. 1 Ohio State, 2-0
Nov. 4, 2006
ANN ARBOR (MI)- Iowa is making the most out of its post-season experience advancing to the Big Ten Tournament championship game after handing No. 4 Michigan a quarterfinal loss yesterday and sending No. 1 seed Ohio State packing shutting out the Buckeyes 2-0 in semi-final action. Iowa's leading goal scorer Caitlin McCurdy collected her 10th goal of the season and Lauren Pfeiffer added her third goal of the tournament in the second half to give the Hawkeyes all the help they needed. The Hawkeyes were hardly intimidated by the Big Ten regular season champions invading Buckeye territory for most of the first half and shutting out Ohio State for only the second time all season. Iowa came out in the second half picking up exactly where they left off. At 43:24 Ohio State turned over the ball just outside its own scoring circle after taking too long setting up a foul shot. Iowa quickly re-set and freshman Kelly Hondros found a wide open McCurdy in front of the net for a direct shot to beat a diving Lindsay Quintiliani. Eight minutes later McCurdy dribbled through the Ohio State back line beating a defender and then the keeper before a desperate Buckeye tripped McCurdy to draw a penalty stroke. Lauren Pfeiffer took the 7-yard shot flicking the ball past Quintiliani to give the Hawkeyes a 2-0 advantage. Pfeiffer could have had her second goal of the game when an earlier shot ricochet off the goal post just minutes into the second half. Lead by Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Heather Schnepf led an impressive defensive effort shutting out the Buckeyes and silencing a team who ranks at the top of the conference in goals scored. The last time Ohio State did not produce a goal was on Oct. 6 when No. 2 Wake Forest won a 1-0 battle at home. Iowa avenged a 2-1 home loss to the Buckeyes in the regular season and kept its post season alive by advancing to its first Big Ten Tournament championship game since falling to Michigan in the 2004 finals. Iowa faces off with Penn State for the Big Ten Tournament title at 1 p.m. CSTV will broadcast the championship game on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. EST. Did you know...Saturday's first semi-final game pitted two teams who were comprised of eight 2006 All-Big Ten selections as well as this seasons Player of the Year-Saskia Mueller (OSU), Offensive Player of the Year-Yesenia Luces (OSU), Defensive Player of the Year-Heather Schnepf (IOWA), Freshman of the Year-Meghan Beamesderfer (IOWA) and Coach of the Year-Anne Wilkinson (OSU)
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