'Cats To Take On North Carolina In NCAA Tournament

Friday, November 12

Iowa City, Iowa

2:30 p.m. CT

Northwestern

#8 North Carolina

'Cats To Take On North Carolina In NCAA Tournament

11/11/2021 10:44:00 AM | Field Hockey

NORTHWESTERN FIELD HOCKEY: GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE	Opponent	TIME	LOCATION	Stream	Live Stats
Friday, November 12	North Carolina	2:30 p.m. CT	Iowa City, Iowa	B1G+ (Free for this game)	Live Stats
Social: Twitter: @NUFHCats Instagram: @NUFHCats

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern begins its NCAA Tournament campaign on Friday, Nov. 12, as it heads to Iowa City to face North Carolina. Start-time is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on B1G+, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals.

Northwestern and North Carolina ranked seventh and eighth in the latest NFHCA Coaches' Poll. North Carolina is seeking its fourth-consecutive national championship, having compiled a 65-1 record from 2018-20. The Wildcats are 4-4-1 all time against the Tar Heels, with the two sides last squaring off in 1993.

Last season, the 'Cats reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Iowa, 3-1.

This is the Wildcats' fifth tournament appearance under Tracey Fuchs and 17th overall. It also marks the first time the Wildcats have made three-consecutive tournaments since 1991.

Northwestern finished the regular season with a 14-4 record, including a win over No. 1 Iowa on the road, before falling to No. 2 Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament. Each of the Wildcats' five losses came by one goal, with all but one against against NCAA tournament qualifiers.

The Wildcats have tallied nine wins over ranked opponents so far this season. The 'Cats also rank fourth in the nation in scoring margin, having scored at least six points in six contests.

The 'Cats offense is led by First Team All-Big Ten honorees Bente Baekers and Maddie Zimmer. Baekers finished second in the Big Ten with 43 points and 17 goals en route to her third-consecutive All-Big Ten nomination, and second First Team selection.

Zimmer, the 2020 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, became the first Wildcat since 2010 to open her career with back-to-back First Team All-Big Ten selections after facilitating the 'Cats offense with seven goals and three assists.

Kayla Blas earned her third-consecutive All-Big Ten honors after anchoring the Wildcat defense and leading the team with 10 assists. Blas has tallied six assists in the 'Cats past six games.

After transferring from Princeton, graduate student Clara Roth ranked fifth in the conference with 13 goals. Senior Maren Seidel also tallied double-digit goals, ranking seventh in the conference with 10.