Inside The Hawkeyes

Iowa Hawkeye Athletics Week in Review

ICYMI: News from Iowa City for Aug. 21-27, 2023

Rob Howe

Mia Magnotta (UI)
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IOWA CITY, Iowa - Hawkeye football fans have been anxiously awaiting kickoff for Saturday's season-opener against Utah State all summer long. If the start of the 2023-2024 sports year around here was any indication, it foreshadowed fun times arriving this fall. 

The top highlight in a couple of weeks of them went down Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C. The seventh-ranked Hawkeye Field Hockey team knocked off No. 1 North Carolina, 3-2, in overtime. 

“I could not be more impressed with this team,” Iowa head coach Lisa Cellucci said in a university press release. “They were loose, poised, and stuck to the plan. Complete team effort. We will certainly enjoy this one and keep building.”

The Hawkeyes overcame two, one-goal deficits during the game. Dionne van Aalsum scored a pair of goals for the winners, while fellow freshman Lieve van Kessel smashed home the game-winner. 

Iowa now has defeated the nation's top-ranked team in three consecutive seasons. The run included two wins against Tar Heels and one over Northwestern. 

The Hawkeyes defeated No. 12 Wake Forest in their season-opener and the first game at the ACC/B1G Challenge here on Saturday. van Aalsum netted two goals with classmate, Miranda Jackson, and senior Sofie Stribos, each adding one tally. 

Earlier in the week, three Iowa players were named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List. Stribos, Mia Magnotta and Esme Gibson, who also made it last year, were recognized. 

Hawkeye History in Hungary

Former Iowa track and field thrower Laulauga Tausaga thrilled her country and sport on Tuesday in Budapest, Hungary. The California native became the first-ever United States woman to win a gold medal in the discus at the World Athletics Championship. 

Tausaga ('21) won with a throw of 69.49 meters on her final throw. Fellow American Valerie Allman was second (69.23).

“Lagi is the most humble and amazing person and I’m so proud of her,” Iowa Director of Track and Field Joey Woody said in a press release. “She has worked her way through many ups and downs of being a post-collegiate athlete, but she has continued to keep her constant focus and dedication to her goals of winning a World Championship title! She is one of the best competitors we’ve ever had in our program." 

Brittany Brown ('18) also represented the Hawkeyes and the United States at the world championships. The California product took seventh in the 100 meters (10.97).

Canning Cyclones

Iowa Soccer improved to 3-0 this season with only one game this week. It was a biggie, though. 

The Hawkeyes helped their athletic department take a 2-0 lead in the '23-'24 Cy-Hawk Series with a 2-1 triumph against visiting Iowa State Thursday. The school winning this match has won the football game that same year in eight of the last nine seasons. They split the two contests in '18.  

Juniors Kenzie Roling and Elle Otto scored Iowa's goals in this one against ISU. Senior Macy Enneking picked up another win in net. 

Bulaga '23 ANF Honoree

Bryan Bulaga is this year's America Needs Farmers (ANF) Wall of Honor recipient, according to a UI press release. Bulaga is the 11th former Iowa Football student-athlete to join the wall at Kinnick Stadium. 

The recognition honors a Hawkeye exemplifying the tenacity, work ethic and character of the Iowa farmer.

Bulaga spent just three seasons at Iowa, earning B1G Offensive Lineman of the Year in his final college campaign in '09. The Illinois native spent 11 years in the NFL. 

Bulaga was preceded on the wall by Casey Wiegmann, Jared DeVries, Bruce Nelson, Robert Gallery, Dallas Clark, Chad Greenway, Aaron Kampman, Matt Kroul, Marshal Yanda and Tony Moeaki.

Fans can show their ANF and Hawkeye pride by purchasing ANF merchandise during game day, Oct. 21 versus Minnesota, in shops around the stadium. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Iowa Food Bank Association, with more than $180,000 raised to feed hungry Iowans since the partnership began.

Preseason Recognition

The preseason watchlist parade continued through Iowa City this week. Quarterback Cade McNamara was named by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. 

Also this week, Hawkeye defensive back Cooper DeJean and Tory Taylor, a punter, were tabbed by a pair of preseason All-America teams. The AP and Sporting News saw Taylor as a first-team. The AP also had DeJean on its top unit, while the Sporting news put him on the second-team. 

Volleyball Tips Off

The Iowa volleyball squad got its campaign underway this weekend at the Sacramento (CA) State Invitational. The Hawkeyes topped Cal-Poly on Friday before falling to Sacramento State and Nevada on Saturday and Sunday. 

Anna Davis represented Iowa on the all-tournament team. The junior from Colorado pounded out 21 kills (.321 hitting percentage) during the event. 

Lending Hawaii A Hand 

The Iowa women’s wrestling and volleyball programs are teaming up to help  Hawaiians that lost everything in a recent wild fire on Maui. The Hawkeyes are heading a donation drive.

Makawao, Hawaii, native, Nanea Estrella, a wrestler, spearheaded the effort that runs through Sept. 6 to help the people where she grew up.

Online donations can be made HERE. In-person contributions can be dropped off at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and Iowa Book and Supply.

The Iowa volleyball program joined Estrella’s efforts by accepting donations at Xtream Arena during Fryfest on Sept. 1 and before its home opener against Middle Tennessee State at 6 p.m. (CT).

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Rob Howe
ROB HOWE

HN Staff

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