Iowa Field Hockey stuns #20 Wake Forest with a late winner

In one of the wildest field hockey games you’ll see all season, true freshman Felicia Zonnenberg wasted no time delivering a heroic moment in her Hawkeye debut. Her 59th minute goal lifted the 15th-ranked Hawkeyes to a thrilling 5-4 win over 20th-ranked Wake Forest. In 26 all-time meetings between Iowa and Wake Forest, none have produced more goals than this—a nine-score shootout to open the ’25 campaign.

“It’s entertaining for the crowd to see loads of goals; it’s a bit stressful when you’re playing,” said senior Milly Short. “It’s a good way to start the season. Definitely things to work on, but there’s a lot of promising things to take away too.”

“It’s been a very long time. I honestly can’t remember, it’s been years and years since we’ve given up that many goals in a close game,” said head coach Lisa Cellucci. “We’ll take it. You’ve just got to score more than the other team.”

The Hawkeyes opened the scoring 60 seconds into the match and found the winner with 109 seconds to play, but in between, they trailed 2-1, 3-2 and lost their 4-3 advantage less than a minute after they gained it. However, Lisa Cellucci’s squad, with eight newcomers tallying minutes, rolled with the punches and found a way to come out on top.

“Their resilience was unbelievable,” said Cellucci. “I was so impressed with the team and how they just continued to go. Sometimes, when you have this many newcomers, they don’t know what they don’t know, they just knew they wanted to get a win on Grant Field.”

Generally, when two ranked field hockey teams square off, especially early in the season, there’s a feeling out period to see how each side is going to play the game. This one followed a completely different script.

In the opening minute of the game, forward Fréderique van Cleef got out in transition and slipped a ball through to Dionne van Aalsum who finished the deal, sending a shot to the top shelf over Wake goalkeeper Ellie Todd. 60 seconds in and Iowa led 1-0.

The lead was short-lived, as the visiting Demon Deacons brought their scoring skills as well. Forward Faye Janse forced a turnover in the Hawkeyes defensive third and took it herself into the circle, sneaking one past Iowa goalkeeper Mia Magnotta for the equalizer in the 3rd minute.

After being punched in the mouth to open the game and delivering a counter punch, Wake Forest put their front foot forward, taking the lead in the 12th minute off of a penalty corner. Off of the insert, Lena Keller went right back to her teammate Mia Montag at the near post, and she swiped one in to put the ‘Deacs in front 2-1, a lead that held through the end of the opening quarter.

Iowa leveled things again in the 28th minute on a penalty corner goal of their own. Hannah Maney inserted to Dionne van Aalsum and her direct shot of the circle found the back of the goal to end a 16-minute stretch without a goal. That would end up being the longest “drought” of the game.

The goal scoring continued into the second half and the Demon Deacons continued to flex their muscle on the penalty corner attack. In the 37th minute, Mia Schoenbeck got a look from the top of the circle and sent a drag flick shot past goalkeeper Mia Magnotta putting Wake back in front 3-2.

“Wake Forest has one of the best drag flickers in the country, so we’re not going to face many people who are as lethal as they are,” said Cellucci. “It’s going to give us some great opportunities to review video before North Carolina.”

The ‘Deacs lead held for about as long as the Hawkeyes lead to open the game. Moments later in the 39th minute, Iowa struck back. Milly Short found Tess Reed at the far post for a redirect goal on a penalty corner. Then, with one minute to play in the third quarter, freshman Jordan Byers found Fréderique van Cleef in transition and the grad transfer from the Netherlands scored to put the Hawkeyes in front 4-3.

The twists and turns of the game were plentiful, with another twist being added before the third quarter horn sounded. Wake quickly attacked and was awarded a penalty corner with under 30 seconds to play in the quarter. The ‘Deacs, who were relentless with their corner attack, converted again. Running the same play that they scored on in the first quarter, Mia Montag’s shot at the short corner deflected in the air and crossed the goal line for an improbable eighth goal through 45 minutes.

Finally, in the waning moments of the game, the Hawkeyes were able to score a goal that would not be answered. In the 59th minute, off of a penalty corner, Iowa converted the game winner. A direct shot from Dionne van Aalsum kicked up into the air and freshman Felicia Zonnenberg batted it into the goal to give Iowa the 5-4 lead.

“We’ve been training all week on rebound situations and mobility from everybody around the circle,” said Cellucci. “Felicia put in a great goal. I loved it. Love the aggression.”

“We just have a lot of trust in each other,” said Milly Short. “All week leading up to this there has been a lot of belief about what this team can do, and I think we put a good performance out there.”

After finishing last season with a 1-5 record in games that ended in overtime or a shootout, the Hawkeyes were not only happy to win a close game, but to get it done before overtime ensued.

“I was very thankful,” said Short. “Not sure I had a double overtime game in me, but good to keep it to 60 minutes, especially with a game on Sunday.”

“In the Big Ten/ACC Challenge you’ve got to get one, at least,” said Cellucci. “This is going to be a big win because that’s going to be a top 15 team.”

Up Next, the 15th-ranked Hawkeyes will host #2 North Carolina in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge finale on Sunday afternoon at Grant Field. The game is set to get underway at 1:00pm CT on BTN+.