Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Welcome Big Ten Newcomer Maryland, Ball State
9/18/2014 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
| #15 Northwestern vs. #2 Maryland |
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| Date | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 11 a.m. |
| Location | Lakeside Field | Evanston, Ill. |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| Twitter Updates | @NU_SportsLIVE |
| #14 Northwestern vs. Ball State |
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| Date | Sunday, Sept. 21 | 11:30 a.m. |
| Location | Lakeside Field | Evanston, Ill. |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| Twitter Updates | @NU_SportsLIVE |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 15 Northwestern opens its Big Ten season Saturday as it hosts Big Ten newcomer and second-ranked Maryland while also taking on Ball State Sunday at Lakeside Field.
Saturday's matchup gets started at 11 a.m. while Sunday's contest gets underway at 11:30 a.m. Please note that both match times are different than previously published times.
The Wildcats (4-3) are coming off a split of their two matches in Winston-Salem, N.C., last week. NU dominated the second half of its match with host and 10th-ranked Wake Forest on Thursday, but a goal by the Demon Deacons late in the second half allowed them to pull out a 1-0 victory. The 'Cats bounced back on Sunday as Caroline Troncelliti scored two goals, including the game-winner 56 seconds into overtime, as Northwestern handed James Madison its first loss of the season, defeating the 20th-ranked Dukes, 2-1.
Isabel Flens (six goals), Troncelliti (five goals) and Dominique Masters (four goals) have combined to score 15 of the team's 21 goals through the squad's first seven contests.
The Wildcats have been solid defensively, allowing only 12 goals in their seven matches paced by back Lisa McCarthy, midfielder Charlotte Martin and goalkeeper Maddy Carpenter, all members of the Big Ten Players to Watch list.
Northwestern has been dominant at home over the last three seasons, having won 16 of its last 17 matches at Lakeside Field. The lone loss was the team's most recent home match on Sept. 7 as No. 15 Louisville snapped NU's school-record-tying 16-match home win streak by earning a 1-0 win.
All three of the Wildcats' losses so far this year have come by a one-goal margin against ranked opponents. In addition to Louisville and Wake Forest, Northwestern suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to third-ranked and defending national champion Connecticut in Storrs on Aug. 31.
The Wildcats will have plenty more opportunities to earn quality wins this season as seven Big Ten teams are ranked in this week's NFHCA top 20 poll.
Scouting Maryland
The Terrapins (5-1) have won three straight matches since suffering their lone loss this season to North Carolina, 3-1. Sarah Sprink leads Maryland with four goals this season while Anna Dessoye has contributed two goals and five assists. NU and Maryland have a common opponent this season in Miami University. The Wildcats beat the RedHawks 5-1 in Oxford while the Terrapins posted a 3-1 win in College Park. Maryland leads the all-time series with Northwestern 12-5, including winning four of five matches played in Evanston.
Scouting Ball State
The Cardinals (3-3) has dropped its last three matches after winning its first three. Sunday's contest will be its third straight against a Big Ten team after falling 3-2 to Ohio State in overtime before being topped 2-0 by Indiana. Bethany Han leads the Ball State attack with three goals. Shelby Henly has been solid in goal, sporting a 2.15 goals-against average and a .776 save percentage. Northwestern holds an 18-7-2 edge all-time vs. the Cardinals. NU has won the last nine meetings, including a 3-0 win a year ago in Muncie.
