Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Providence
Shootout Determines 4-3 Wildcat Victory Over Providence
9/14/2002 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 14, 2002
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Winning its second game in a row, Northwestern's field hockey team improved its record to 3-2 beating Providence College 4-3 in a shootout on the first day of the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge in Michigan. Senior Lindsey Millard (St. Louis, Mo./Mary Institute Country Day) scored her fourth goal of the year and third game-winning goal as NU won the shootout 4-1.
The Wildcats took a 3-0 lead into halftime as freshman Holly Palin (Mequon, Wis./University School of Milwaukee) and sophomore Candice Cooper (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier) scored NU's first-half goals. Palin continues to swing the hot stick, scoring her third and fourth goals of the season, while Cooper tallied her third. This is the second game of the season Palin has scored two goals in a game.
"We came out very strong on our corner play in the first half," said head coach Marisa Didio. "We weren't very strong overall, our corner execution was the difference in the first half."
Losing, 3-0, Providence came out in the second half and took control of the game. The Friars answered NU's three-goal half with one of their own, sending the match to overtime.
"I was disappointed in our second-half intensity," said Didio. "Providence did a good job of creating momentum and taking control."
NU outshot Providence 11-5 in the extra stanzas, but each team's goalkeeper stepped up to the challenge. Friar keeper Meaghan Moran and Wildcat netminder Kelly Augustine (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) did not allowing a goal the entire 30 minutes of overtime.
"I thought we dominated overtime." said Didio. "Our kids refocused and we had good chances to win the game, but their goalkeeper did a good job of keeping us out of the net."
After the overtime, the teams lined up for the game-deciding shootout. Providence missed its first two opportunities, while NU went 4-4 to clinch the shootout at 4-1. Junior Suzi Sutton (York, Pa./Dallastown), freshman Christine Nannicelli (Walpole, Mass./Walpole), Cooper and Millard each converted their shots, with Millard's proving to be the winner.
