Iowa Hawkeyes Field Hockey Stays Perfect at No. 2, Boasts Nation's Best Scoring Duo

The Iowa Hawkeyes field hockey team remains undefeated at 6-0 and holds firm at No. 2 in the latest national rankings after a pair of ranked victories over the weekend. The Hawkeyes' high-powered offense, led by the nation's top two scorers, continues to make Iowa a serious contender for a national championship.

Hawkeyes Edge Past Ranked Foes in Weekend Slate

Iowa opened its weekend with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over No. 16 Miami (OH) before taking down No. 11 Louisville 4-2. The wins kept the Hawkeyes perfect on the season and solidified their position behind only top-ranked Northwestern.

The Redhawks gave Iowa all it could handle, holding the Hawkeyes scoreless through the first 50 minutes of Friday's contest. But Iowa's ability to capitalize on late opportunities proved decisive, as the Hawkeyes converted two penalty corners in the final 10 minutes to steal the win.

Good teams take advantage of mistakes, especially in the clutch. Iowa may be the best in the nation at doing that.

Van Cleef and van Aalsum Form Unstoppable Duo

At the heart of Iowa's success is the nation's most prolific scoring tandem. Frederique van Cleef and Dionne van Aalsum rank No. 1 and No. 2 nationally in points, respectively, and both came up huge against Louisville.

All four of Iowa's goals against the Cardinals came off the sticks of van Cleef and van Aalsum. van Aalsum earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after scoring three goals across the two games, including two game-winners.

The Hawkeyes' offensive firepower has made them a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses and a legitimate threat to unseat Northwestern atop the college field hockey world.

Big Ten Opener on Deck Against Indiana

Iowa now turns its attention to conference play, hosting Indiana twice this week. The Hawkeyes open Big Ten action Friday before facing the Hoosiers again Sunday in a non-conference matchup.

The double dip against Indiana gives Iowa a chance to build momentum before a grueling conference schedule that will test the Hawkeyes' national title credentials.

Northwestern Still the Team to Beat

While Iowa continues to roll, Northwestern remains the measuring stick in college field hockey. The Wildcats improved to 7-0 with wins over Louisville and Miami (OH), anchored by a stifling defense and goaltender Juliana Boon, who recorded a career-high seven saves in each game.

Northwestern's defense has been nearly impenetrable, but the Wildcats face a tricky road test at No. 18 Cal this week. A slip-up could open the door for Iowa to claim the top spot.

What's Next for the Hawkeyes

Iowa's schedule doesn't let up after this week's Indiana series. The Hawkeyes will face a gauntlet of Big Ten opponents, including matchups against Maryland and Michigan, as they push for a conference title and a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.

With the best scoring duo in the nation and a proven knack for winning close games, Iowa has positioned itself as a legitimate national championship contender in 2026.