Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
(16-7)
Duke
(13-6)
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Northwestern | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Team Stats
Buttinger, Jessica (8)
Shot from front of cage
24:39
Chillano, Alyssa (2)
Assisted By: Johnson, Aileen
On penalty corner
34:20
McCarthy, Lisa (7)
After rebound on penalty corner
47:16
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Northwestern Edged by Duke in NCAA Tournament, 2-1
11/15/2014 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
The Wildcats complete their season with a 16-7 record after winning their first Big Ten tournament title in school history.
"We didn't have our best first half today, but we came back and showed how well we can play," said Northwestern head coach Tracey Fuchs. "Every game, win or lose, we were in it. I look forward to the next couple of years to see what we can do. We'll be back to work in the spring trying to get better. I'm just so proud of what they've accomplished this year and how they've carried themselves through this season."
Appearing in the NCAA tourney for the first time since 1994, Northwestern started the contest on the right foot as it early pressure resulted in a penalty corner in the first minute of action. However, Dominique Masters' shot went just wide.
From there, the opening half was all Duke. The Blue Devils put the pressure on the Wildcats' defense and goalkeeper Maddy Carpenter. Carpenter was up to the task, making numerous saves as Duke was able to penetrate the circle.
However, the Blue Devils were able to cash in at 24:39 as Jessica Buttinger got behind the Wildcats' back line of defense and scored her eighth goal of the year to give Duke a 1-0 advantage.
The Blue Devils' speed prevented Northwestern from mounting much of an attack at all in the opening period. Duke didn't let up following the first score, but Carpenter helped keep the 'Cats within striking distance as the first-team All-Big Ten selection made nine saves in the first half alone, one shy of her high for an entire game this season.
It appeared the Wildcats might be able to survive the opening 35 minutes of play and go into halftime only down one goal, but a Duke tally with just 40 seconds left in the stanza increased its advantage to two. The Blue Devils converted on their sixth penalty corner of the half as Alyssa Chillano scored off Aileen Johnson's assist.
Northwestern was able to regroup during the intermission and eventually got right back into the contest.
The 'Cats earned their second corner of the match 12 minutes into the second half and they broke through with a goal to cut the deficit in half. Isabel Flens' initial shot was saved by Duke goalie Lauren Blazing, but the rebound came to insterter Lisa McCarthy who knocked it home for her seventh goal of the year to make it 2-1 at 47:16.
The goal gave the Wildcats a boost of moment as they surged forward throughout the final 23 minutes of regulation in search of the tying goal. With Duke down a player for five minutes due to a yellow card, Northwestern opted to pull Carpenter from goal for an extra attacker with 5:23 remaining.
The Wildcats were able to penetrate the Blue Devils' circle on a pair of occasions but were unable to notch the equalizer as Duke advance to face host North Carolina in Sunday's quarterfinal round.
After being held in check in the first half, Northwestern managed a 5-2 edge in shots in the second period. Carpenter finished the contest with 11 saves for NU.
The contest concluded the Wildcat careers of Carpenter, Kristin Wirtz and Kelsey Thompson.
