'Cats Advance to National Championship!

Friday, November 19

Ann Arbor, MI

3 pm CT

Northwestern

(17-5)

#12 Harvard

(17-2)

Harvard

Northwestern

'Cats Advance to National Championship!

11/19/2021 6:04:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: By Kiki Higuchi, NUSports.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Northwestern battled the elements, an hour delay and a stingy Harvard defense to advance to the NCAA Championship game for the first time in program history after a 2-1 win in overtime.

Maddie Zimmer overcame a tide of Crimson defenders to earn the final penalty corner just two minutes into overtime and Bente Baekers put it away. Alia Marshall knew they always generated a lot of opportunities in overtime and was ready for this one when it came.

"Maddie is so fast on that right side and she's able to beat anyone." Marshall said. "I knew she was going to get something out of that as soon as she hit the circle. So when we got that corner I was just excited. Bente's accuracy is what put that ball in the cage."

CHAMPIONSHIP. BOUND.

BENTE BAEKERS FOR THE WIN!#GoCats | #nufh | #NCAAFH pic.twitter.com/KHwnRyekKr
— Northwestern FH (@NUFHCats) November 19, 2021

Head coach Tracey Fuchs was undeterred by the promise of a tough Crimson defense and a field covered in ice, confident in her attacking squad.

"They're stingy, they have great tacklers," she said. "We really emphasized attacking the outsides and using the simple pass. It was a little tough because the field was a little bit dry, so we couldn't play exactly how we wanted to play; but this team has adjusted all year. We knew our opportunities would come and they did."

Both Baekers and Maren Seidel connected on direct shots off penalty corners, assisted by Clara Roth and Kayla Blas. Seidel claimed the first goal of the game and Baekers grabbed the last.

Off with a BANG ??

Maren Seidel strikes first on a corner!#GoCats | #nufh | #NCAAFH pic.twitter.com/xSYDpRWSQg
— Northwestern FH (@NUFHCats) November 19, 2021

Once again the Wildcat offense was stifling and easily outpaced Harvard. The 'Cats put up a whopping 10 shots, eight of which were on goal, and earned four corners. Northwestern is the only team in the country to net two goals against the Crimson defense this season.

Northwestern will face Liberty in the National Championship on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Kayla Blas is ready to face the challenge alongside her team.

"To be able to fight for a national championship with my best friends, the friends I'm going to walk away from college with and be friends with for the rest of my life, I'm beyond excited," she said. "I'm so proud of every single person and how we've developed over this year. It's going to take all 28 of us to win on Sunday, like it took all 28 of us today."