Iowa field hockey reignites national championship chase

After nearly a year off, Iowa field hockey could win its second-ever NCAA title with two more wins in 2020-21.

Hannah Kinson


Iowa midfielder Ellie Holley waits for the ball during a field hockey game against Maryland on Sunday, April 4, 2021. “[We] kind of took it as an opportunity,” Holley said. “We took the fall as yeah our season was canceled, but we had seven freshmen and in season it can be really hard to bond because you’re just so busy. And having the four or five months to actually get to know the freshmen, going into a spring season we’re such a unit now that it’s, we’re not, you know, wasting time with the ‘Oh, hi. Where’d you like the ball? What’s your name?’ Like we all know each other so well. I think that’s really helped us flourish.” Hannah Kinson

Coming off a Big Ten Tournament win in 2019, the Iowa field hockey team was forced to delay nearly an entire year of progress during 2020. The limitations of the pandemic interrupted training, team development, and championship plans, but ultimately brought the team closer together during an extended offseason.