CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina – The ninth-ranked University of Iowa field hockey team fell to eighth-ranked Duke in the sweet-sixteen on Friday afternoon at Karen Shelton Stadium.

“This game doesn’t define our season,” head coach Lisa Cellucci said. “We had a fantastic season, including playing ourselves into the Sweet 16. I thought this group battled all year long with a tough schedule. I am very proud of them, and that they left everything on the field.”

Both teams were scoreless through the first period. The Hawkeyes put up five shots from five penalty corners but could not capitalize.

Dionne van Aalsum was able to put Iowa on the board first with an unassisted goal at 24:04 in the second period to put the Hawkeyes up 1-0.

The Blue Devils were able to tie up the game in the third period off of a rebounded penalty corner shot. After a yellow card on Iowa put the Hawkeyes down a player, and Duke scored their second goal of the game to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth.

Iowa pulled goalkeeper Mia Magnotta in the last two minutes to try and get something going. Despite getting a chance with a penalty corner, Iowa was unable to come away with a goal, as the Blue Devils held on to win.

Duke outshot Iowa, 13-12, and held a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal.

Notables  

• Magnotta collected five saves on the day.
• Van Aalsum tallied her 28th goal of the season, making her eighth all-time at Iowa in career goals (65).
• The Hawkeyes are 30-29 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• Iowa finished the season with a record of 14-6 overall and 5-3 in conference play.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Iowa women’s tennis team opened play at the Notre Dame Invitational on Friday, competing in singles and doubles action against Princeton at the Eck Tennis Pavilion.

In singles play, Emma Tothová earned a hard-fought, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Anna Maria Fedotova, while Pia Kranholdt posted a straight-set, 6-0, 6-3 victory over Maren Urata. Nikita Vishwase pushed a third set against Tsehay Driscoll before falling, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1, while Eline Bex fell to Anna Nguyen, 6-1, 7-5.

In doubles action, Bex and Vishwase paired up for a 6-2 victory over Driscoll and Fedotova, while Tothová and Kranholdt fell 6-1 to Eva Elbaz and Urata.

“It was a good first day here at the Notre Dame Invitational,” said head coach Sasha Boros. “It has a similar format to a spring match day so that’s a great experience for us. We’re looking forward to some more great competition over the weekend.”

The Hawkeyes will continue competition tomorrow.

Singles
Emma Tothová (Iowa) def. Anna Maria Fedotova (Princeton), 6-3, 7-5
Tsehay Driscoll (Princeton) def. Nikita Vishwase (Iowa), 7-6, 2-6, 6-1
Pia Kranholdt (Iowa) def. Maren Urata (Princeton), 6-0, 6-3
Anna Nguyen (Princeton) def. Eline Bex (Iowa), 6-1, 7-5

Doubles
Eline Bex/Nikita Vishwase (Iowa) def. Tsehay Driscoll/Anna Maria Fedotova (Princeton), 6-2
Eva Elbaz/Maren Urata (Princeton) def. Emma Tothová/Pia Kranholdt (Iowa), 6-1

AMES, Iowa – No. 6 Iowa State dominated in its first dual of the season, winning nine of 10 bouts in a 37-3 victory over Nebraska-Kearney.

Iowa State (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) won seven matches by bonus-point margin, including four major decisions and three tech falls. The Cyclones held the edge over the Lopers (1-1, 0-0 MIAA) in takedowns, 36-4.

ISU is now 7-2 in dual openers under head coach Kevin Dresser.

Northern Colorado transfer Stevo Poulin made his Cyclone debut at 125 pounds. Tied 4-4 in the second period against Caleb Coyle, Poulin notched two takedowns in the final period, as well as a riding time point, to separate himself for a 15-6 major decision.

True freshman Carter Pearson got the nod at 133 pounds for the Cyclones. He wrestled a back-and-forth match against UNK’s Zach Ourada. Pearson got the first takedown in the opening period. Ourada would get a takedown of his own in the third period but was quickly reversed by Pearson. Following an escape by Ourada, Pearson held on to win via a riding time point.

At 141 pounds, Evan Frost had no problem as he dispatched of Joseph Airola via tech fall, 20-4. Frost tallied six takedowns in the match and improved to 3-0 on the young season.

No. 2 Paniro Johnson made a concerted effort to put points on the board in his 17-9 major decision over Brady Collins. Johnson recorded five takedowns against Collins and has now scored 15-plus match points in three of his four matches this season.

At 157 pounds, Jacob Frost secured a second-period tech fall over Cael Robb, 19-3, in his first match of the season. Frost put five takedowns on the scoreboard and a four-point near fall as he recorded the 50^th win of his career.

Connor Euton handled his business at 165 pounds with a 17-4 major decision over Trenton Munoz. The Cyclone tallied five takedowns as he improved to 4-0 on the season. All four wins have come with bonus points.

At 174 pounds, MJ Gaitan was a point shy of a tech fall against Augie Batsuuri, finishing with a 15-1 major decision. Gaitan’s lead was only 4-0 after two periods but he broke open the match with a takedown and four near fall points at the beginning of the third.

Isaac Dean made it seven bonus-point victories in the first eight matches with a tech fall at 184 pounds. He defeated Kaden Hart, 19-4, in 5:55 to push Iowa State’s dual lead to 34-0 with two matches remaining. Dean notched six takedowns in the match, including three in the first period.

Nebraska-Kearney would get on the scoreboard at 197 pounds. It was a low scoring, but thrilling, match which saw Jackson Kinsella, ranked No. 1 in Division II, defeat CJ Carter in tiebreakers, 5-1.

McCrae Hagarty capped the night with a win at heavyweight, using a second period takedown to secure a 3-2 decision over Crew Howard.

UP NEXT
No. 6 Iowa State is off until after Thanksgiving when the Cyclones host No. 3 Iowa for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Dual on Sunday, Nov. 30 at noon. That dual will be nationally televised on ESPN. Tickets are still available, here.

MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
No. 6 Iowa State 37, Nebraska-Kearney 3
125: No. 7 Stevo Poulin (ISU) MD Caleb Coyle (UNK), 15-6
133: Carter Pearson (ISU) dec. Zach Ourada (UNK), 7-6
141: Evan Frost (ISU) TF Joseph Airola (UNK), 20-4 (6:51)
149: No. 2 Paniro Johnson (ISU) MD. Brady Collins (UNK), 17-9
157: Jacob Frost (ISU) TF Cael Robb (UNK), 19-3 (4:59)
165: Connor Euton (ISU) MD Trenton Munoz (UNK), 17-4
174: No. 12 MJ Gaitan (ISU) MD Augie Batsuuri (UNK), 15-1
184: No. 9 Isaac Dean (ISU) TF Kaden Hart (UNK), 19-4 (5:55)
197: Jackson Kinsella (UNK) dec. CJ Carter (ISU), 5-1 TB-1
285: McCrae Hagarty (ISU) dec. Crew Howard (UNK), 3-2

Officials: Eric Eckerman, Ben Marshall
Attendance: 4,710

STILLWATER, Okla. – The University of Iowa cross country team wrapped up the 2025 season Friday morning at the NCAA Midwest Regional at the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course. Sophomore Elena Torres led the women’s squad, while redshirt sophomore Luke Knepp paced the Hawkeye men. The men finished 15th with 430 points, and the women placed 16th with 424 points.

Torres was Iowa’s top women’s finisher in every regular-season and postseason meet this year. Her time of 21:28.4 marked a season best. Sophomore Hillary Trainor posted a time of 21:52.8 and also scored for the Hawkeyes in every meet this season. Senior Jalyssa Blazek set a season best at 22:21.3 while scoring for the women. Rounding out the top five were junior Audra Soderlind (22:31.9) and senior Rowan Boulter, who posted a season best of 22:41.6.

The men’s team featured two strong 10,000-meter debuts. Knepp led Iowa with a time of 32:25.4, and freshman Elias Arbuckle (32:42.7) was third for the Hawkeyes in his first collegiate 10K. Senior Brayden Burnett was Iowa’s second scorer at 32:32.1. Hayden Kuhn (32:59.8) and Carson Houg (33:04.9) rounded out the top five, continuing their consistent scoring roles.

The meet concludes the 2025 cross country season for the Hawkeyes.

Oklahoma State swept the team titles and claimed individual championships in the women’s 6,000 meters and men’s 10,000 meters.

Up Next: Iowa’s cross country season has come to a close. The track and field program opens its 2025-26 campaign at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston on Dec. 6.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Women’s 6,000 Meters
16th – 424 Points
40. Elena Torres – 21:28.4 SB
64. Hillary Trainor – 21:52.8
97. Jalyssa Blazek – 22:21.3 SB
110. Audra Soderlind – 22:31.9
123. Rowan Boulter – 22:41.6 SB
164. Marissa Long – 23:09.7
176. Clare Kelly – 23:19.1

Men’s 10,000 Meters
15th – 430 Points
65. Luke Knepp – 32:25.4
76. Brayden Burnett – 32:32.1
84. Elias Arbuckle – 32:42.7
100. Hayden Kuhn – 32:59.8
105. Carson Houg – 33:04.9
124. Kyle Montgomery – 33:32.2

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State punter Tyler Perkins has been named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, announced Friday by the Augusta Sports Council. Perkins was among 10 players selected from a field of 92 nominated candidates.

Perkins, a senior from Nowalk, Ohio, has had an impressive 2025 season, punting 35 times with a net average of 41.86 yards. Of his 35 punts, 17 have been inside the 20-yard line and only four have been returned. Opponents have accumulated just 13 return yards against Perkins, ninth-fewest nationally.

He owns a touchback percentage of 2.8 percent, with just one of his 35 punts ending up in the endzone.

A four-year starter, Perkins owns the best career punting average in school history at 43.5 yards per kick.

2025 Ray Guy Award Semifinalists
Tyler Perkins, Iowa State

Brett Thorson, Georgia

Daniel Hughes, New Mexico

Dante Atton, Temple

Evan Crenshaw, Troy

Jackson Ross, Tennessee

James Rendell, Notre Dame

Luke Freer, Air Force

Nick Haberer, Vanderbilt

Palmer Williams, Baylor

The 21st ranked Iowa Hawkeyes head west to play 17th ranked USC tomorrow. After getting gashed by Oregon on the ground last week the Iowa defense faces another difficult test against a Trojan offense that averages nearly 40 points per game.

USC is 7-2 and in the playoff hunt. Ferentz says an improved defense has been a key to their success.

Iowa’s last trip to Los Angeles a year ago resulted in a lackluster defeat at the hands of UCLA.

Weather is likely to be a factor. The 2:30-p.m. kickoff forecast is for a temperature of 61 and a nearly 90 percent chance of rain. Pre-game coverage on KJAN begins at 12:30-p.m.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake women’s basketball made three additions to its program today as a trio of incoming freshmen inked their official letters of intent. Alex Couch, Grace Fincham, and Karis Finley all signed to don the blue and white as the Bulldogs’ class of 2025.

“Karis, Alex and Grace are perfect fits for our basketball family,” Suzie Glazer Burt Head Coach Allison Pohlman said. “They’re competitive, self-driven, and have a team-first mindset that matches the culture we’re so proud of at Drake.”

Alex Couch, a 5’10” guard from Liberty, Missouri, has twice been named a First Team All-Suburban Gold Conference and First Team All-District performer. She was also recognized as an All-State honoree and surpassed the 1,000-career point mark as a junior. Couch was also a standout on the softball diamond with multiple conference, district, region, and state honors.

Grace Fincham will come to Des Moines after a remarkable prep career at West High School in Iowa City. Fincham has earned three varsity letters and a pair of unanimous First Team All-Mississippi Valley Conference honors. She was named the Trojans’ team MVP as a sophomore. Fincham has also garnered IGCA Class 5A All-District, All-Region, and All-State awards.

Lastly, Cedar Falls native Karis Finley rounds out the Bulldogs’ 2025 signing class. Finley earned All-Mississippi Valley Conference First Team status all three years of high school thus far and All-State listings twice. Finley helped lead the Tigers to a conference title as a sophomore.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State tight end Benjamin Brahmer has been named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, given annually to college football’s outstanding tight end. The eight Mackey Award semifinalists include four Big 12 tight ends.

Brahmer, a junior out of Pierce, Nebraska, is having a career year as the Cyclones’ leading pass catcher. With two games left in the regular season, Brahmer has 33 receptions for 388 yards and a team-best five touchdown receptions. Brahmer also has two two-point conversion scores, which don’t count in his stats.

Brahmer has three games this season with at least five receptions, including a five catch, 75-yard performance against nationally-ranked BYU. He had a season-high seven receptions and scored two touchdowns in a win against South Dakota.

The last time a tight end led the Cyclones in receptions was Collin Franklin in 2010 (54 receptions).

2025 Mackey Award Semifinalists

Benjamin Brahmer, Iowa State

Dallen Bentley, Utah

Justin Joly, NC State

Tanner Koziol, Houston

Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

Michael Trigg, Baylor

Dae’Quan Wright, Ole Miss