Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Pacific
Indiana Comes From Behind to Tame the Tigers
9/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 18, 2008
OXFORD, Ohio – The Hoosiers used a big second half to come back from a 2-0 halftime deficit and defeat the Pacific Tigers by a score of 4-3. Three goals in the second half and another in the extra session were enough to earn the Hoosiers their fourth win of the season.
Sophomore Kelsey Kiper came up big in the game, recording her first two goals of the season, including the game winner. The final goal came in the 72nd minute, when Kiper broke away from the pack to beat Pacific goalkeeper Christina Niccum for a goal and the game.
Kiper’s first goal came in the game’s 40th minute with her team down 2-0. The goal was the first of the second half, and it cut the Tiger lead in half.
The Tiger’s answered with an Ashley Niccum goal, directly off of a penalty corner. The goal put the Hoosiers back down by two tallies with less than 24 minutes left in regulation.
The Indiana upperclassmen refused to give up, and junior Meg O’Connell and senior Danitra Castro led the way. O’Connell scored her fifth goal of the season in the 56th minute, scoring off a penalty corner on a pass from junior Alina Valenti.
With the lead cut to just one, the Hoosiers were in a race against the clock. Castro made it just in time, scoring her second goal of the season in the 68th minute. Receiving the ball on a penalty corner, O’Connell got the ball to an open Castro for the tying goal, firmly moving the game’s momentum into IU’s favor.
Momentum was enough, as it only took a minute and a half for Kiper’s goal to break the tie and win the game.
Indiana moves to 4-3 on the season, and Pacific drops to 1-5. The Hoosiers return to action on Saturday, when they visit the Ball State Cardinals for a intra-state battle that is slated to start at 2 p.m. ET.
For complete coverage of Indiana field hockey, stay tuned to www.IUHoosiers.com.
