Wildcats Welcome No. 25 Buckeyes to Lakeside Field

10/3/2018 11:44:00 AM | Field Hockey

By: by Kjetil Odden

2018 NORTHWESTERN FIELD HOCKEY
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME (CT)	LOCATION	WATCH	LIVE STATS
Friday, Oct. 5	No. 25 Ohio State	3 p.m.	Evanston, Ill.	BTN2GO	Sidearm
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EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 12 Northwestern returns home this week to host No. 25 Ohio State on Friday at 3 p.m. at Lakeside Field.

The Wildcats are coming off a road trip in which they faced Michigan and Michigan State in away contests. NU fell narrowly to the sixth-ranked Wolverines by a score of 3-2 before dispatching the Spartans, 2-0, on Sunday.

The weekend split gave Chicago's Big Ten Team an overall mark of 8-5 on the year, with a 3-1 record in conference play. Nine of the 'Cats 13 opponents have been ranked nationally in the top 25.

The shutout against MSU was the sixth of junior Annie Kalfas' career, and also marked the first time this season that the Northwestern defense did not allow a single shot on goal throughout the game.

Puck Pentenga raised her team-leading points total to 25 on the season with a goal and an assist in the victory. The senior now holds sole possession of third place in career assists in program history.

Junior Kirsten Mansfield matched Pentenga with a goal and an assist in the contest as well. With four goals and eight assists, her 16 points on the season are good for second-most on the squad.

NU leads the all-time series against Ohio State 33-27-1. The 'Cats took the victory last season in the matchup between the two sides, winning 3-2 in the overtime period.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

No. 25 Ohio State

The Buckeyes enter the match at an even 6-6 for the campaign, with a 2-3 mark in the Big Ten. OSU most recently fell to No. 13 Iowa at home, with the Hawkeyes prevailing 2-1 in double overtime.

Ohio State boasts two players with double-digit points on the season, led by Esther Clotet with 13. Casey Cole is second on the team with 12, while six more Buckeyes have notched at least five for the campaign.

OSU will be looking for its fourth ranked win of the year, after picking up victories over No. 8 Louisville, No. 19 Boston University, and No. 17 Rutgers.

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