Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Try to Regain Winning Ways Against Hawkeyes
10/21/2010 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 21, 2010
Northwestern (10-6, 2-1 Big Ten) at Iowa (3-11, 0-4 Big Ten)
Sunday, Oct. 24
Grant Field
Iowa City, Iowa • Noon CT
Live Stream: BigTenNetwork.com
Northwestern Weekly Release -- Oct. 21 
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern travels west to Iowa this weekend to begin the stretch run of its regular season with hopes for a Big Ten championship still intact. Game time from Iowa's Grant Field is set for noon with the game available to watch live on BigTenNetwork.com.
A glance at the Big Ten Conference standings shows that Northwestern sits in third place with a 2-1 mark in the league. Michigan remains undefeated at 4-0 while Ohio State is second at 3-1. The Wildcats still have games remaining against Iowa (0-4), Penn State (3-2) and Michigan State (1-3).
Down to the Wire in Michigan
Northwestern endured a pair of edge-of-your-seat finishes during its road swing to Michigan last weekend, falling 4-3 in overtime to the 12th-ranked Wolverines before being done in by a goal with under three minutes remaining in a 2-1 defeat at No. 7 Michigan State. Against Michigan, senior Marnie Robbins put together a career day by scoring all three Wildcat goals after coming into the afternoon with two career goals. But Robbins' effort was countered by U-M freshman Rachael Mack, who also scored a hat trick that included the game-winner in overtime.
NU's match at Michigan State -- which the 'Cats played without the services of the Big Ten's leading scorer Chelsea Armstrong -- did not count toward the Big Ten Conference standings. The two schools will meet again in the season finale Oct. 31 in Evanston.
Northwestern-Iowa Series Notes
Northwestern and Iowa needed overtime to settle their last meeting, a 1-0 Hawkeye victory in Evanston on Oct. 23, 2009. The win gave the Hawkeyes a 48-14-4 lead in the all-time series having won the last seven matchups dating to 2004.
Getting Defensive
One of Northwestern's most reliable performers and leaders this season has been senior defender Sarah Marcincin, a three-year starter for the Wildcats. Along with goalkeeper Amanda Wirth, who ranks fourth in the Big Ten in saves, Marcincin is the driving force on an NU defense that has allowed more than three goals in a game only three times all season and just once since Sept. 3.
NU Spreads the Wealth
Northwestern has received offensive contributions from a plethora of sources in 2010, with 13 Wildcats having scored at least one goal. On top of that, Stacy Uchida has recorded eight assists -- good for second on the team -- but is still in search of the first goal of her senior campaign. A year ago, 12 NU players made their way into the scoring column.
Big Ten Descends on Evanston
In just two short weeks, Northwestern will serve as the host institution for the 2010 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament Nov. 4-7. This is the third time since 2001 that NU's Lakeside Field has been the host site. Single-day tickets for the event will be available at the gates ($7 for adults, $5 for students) and the Big Ten Network will be on hand to broadcast Friday's semifinal matches as well as Sunday's championship contest.
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