Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan State
Wildcats Down Spartans, 3-2, in Overtime
9/30/2006 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 30, 2006
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. The third time ended up being the charm for the 'Cats Saturday afternoon as Northwestern converted on its third penalty corner with no time remaining in overtime to defeat Michigan State, 3-2. Sophomore Jill Putnam (Greenfield, Mass./Greenfield) tallied two of NU's three goals, including the game-winner.
"It was a team effort today," Head Coach Kelly McCollum said. "It wasn't one of our prettier matches, but we stuck together. I'm proud of how we trusted, believed and came together."
Junior Katie Charles (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington) opened the scoring for the 'Cats immediately, taking a deflected save and pushing it past MSU's goalie just over three minutes into the contest.
Northwestern's (6-6, 1-1) intensity continued and four minutes later, the 'Cats struck again. Charles assisted Putnam off a direct corner to give NU a 2-0 advantage early.
Michigan State found the back of the cage 20 minutes into the match when Floor Rijpma attacked from center and slipped the ball past Emily Kyle (San Francisco, Calif./San Francisco University H.S.).
With Northwestern leading 2-1, the match was postponed with 11:36 remaining in the first half due to inclement weather. After an hour pause, the two teams resumed play but neither team scored before halftime.
With ten minutes remaining in the second half, the Spartans' Becky Manning evened the score at two.
Michigan State had an intense series of four-consecutive penalty corners with seven minutes remaining, but Kyle held strong in the cage, keeping the Spartans at bay.
With the score deadlocked, the match headed into overtime--a familiar place for the 'Cats as three matches this season have seen extra sessions. MSU had the first opportunity to score, earning a corner just into overtime but Northwestern's defense stifled the Spartan attack.
Northwestern was awarded a penalty corner at the end of overtime, which yielded another corner because of a foul in the circle. Another corner. Another foul. Finally, on the third attempt, Charles found Putnam who shot a waist-high ball from the left side for the match-winner.
Kyle recorded 12 saves in 80 minutes.
Northwestern is now 3-1 in overtime matches this season. The 'Cats are back in action next Sunday when they travel to Iowa City for a 1 p.m. contest against the Hawkeyes.
