Northwestern University Athletics
Field Hockey Wins Wild One at Michigan State
6/21/1999 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
November 2, 1998
EAST LANSING, Mich.-Junior goalie Jess Yates stopped nine shots in regulation and the Wildcats converted six-of-eight penalty strokes as NU concluded the regular season with a 2-1 win at Michigan State on Sunday. The game was decided in the second round of penalty strokes.
Northwestern got on the board first as Lisa Comrie found the back of the cage off a pass from Lindsay Wright at the 15:38 mark. MSU tied the game with 20:55 remaining in the second period on a goal by Deidre McLinden.
After two scoreless sudden death overtime periods, the teams went to penalty strokes. Each team converted three-of-five penalty strokes in the first series, thus taking the two sides to a second series of strokes. Prior to the second series, game officials informed the coaches that the second series was to be played in a sudden death format. However, according to the rule book, sudden death should not occur until a third penalty stroke series. With the second series tied at 2-2, Wildcat junior Amy Haase converted NU's third stroke of the series while MSU's Debbie White missed hers, giving the Cats a 3-2 lead in that series and the victory.
MSU outshot the Wildcats, 22-11, and held a 14-6 edge in penalty corners. Five of Yates nine stops in goal came during overtime. MSU goalie Amy Ortwein had four saves in the loss. Northwestern improves to 7-12 overall, 2-8 Big Ten. MSU falls to 8-11, 4-6 Big Ten.
The Cats will be the No. 6 seed at this weekend's Big Ten Tournament in East Lansing. NU faces third-seeded Ohio State on Friday at 1 p.m. CST, with the winner taking on second-seeded Michigan Saturday at 1 p.m. CST. The championship game will be held Sunday at Noon CST.
