Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Iowa
No. 19 Northwestern Stung by Iowa's Overtime Winner
10/23/2009 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 23, 2009
Result: Iowa 1, No. 19 Northwestern 0 (Final)
Lakeside Field; Evanston, Ill.
Next Game: Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. Ohio State
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Playing in another back-and-forth game that has typified its Big Ten season thus far, No. 19 Northwestern stood toe-to-toe with Iowa Friday afternoon but dropped a 1-0 decision in overtime at Lakeside Field. It was NU's first loss in five overtime contests it has played this season.
The Wildcats move to 12-6 on the year (1-4 Big Ten) entering their regular-season finale against Ohio State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31 on Senior Day at Lakeside Field.
Friday's game was marked by countless momentum swings as each squad dictated the action for extended segments of the game. Northwestern outplayed Iowa down the stretch in regulation--at one point earning four consecutive corners and keeping the ball in the Hawkeyes' circle for more than two straight minutes--but had each of its scoring attempts turned aside by the Iowa defense.
With play reduced to 7-on-7 in overtime, Iowa notched the first true scoring opportunity less than a minute into the period as Meghan Beamesderfer unleashed a hit inside the arc with no defenders around her to speak of. But NU's Stacy Uchida recovered and jumped in front of Beamesderfer's shot to keep the game scoreless.
Seven minutes later, the Hawkeyes earned a penalty corner despite being issued a yellow card and seeing one of its players sent off with a five-minute penalty on the same play. With just three players along the arc, Iowa pushed the penalty corner directly to senior Tricia Dean, who ripped a shot past NU goalkeeper Katie Lynch to deal Northwestern the loss.
With the win, Iowa becomes the first team this season to post a shutout against Northwestern.
Through much of the second half, the 'Cats were fueled by senior Elizabeth Dobbs, who made repeated half-field runs with the ball on her stick looking to create chances for her teammates. After one such run resulted in an NU penalty corner, Chelsea Armstrong took the pass of the corner and shot high and hard toward the far post, appearing to have Iowa 'keeper Merty McGraw beaten. But the ball hit the upper body of Beamesderfer and was cleared out of play.
Each team took 12 total shots on the afternoon, with Lynch making six saves for the Wildcats.
Northwestern will aim to close the regular season on a winning note when it hosts Ohio State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, with the game being preceded by NU's annual Senior Day festivities.
