Northwestern
#9 Liberty
'Cats Set to Face Liberty in NCAA Championship
11/20/2021 2:40:00 PM | Field Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – After an electric overtime win against Harvard, Northwestern will advance to the NCAA championship for the first time in program history to face Liberty.
The 'Cats took down the Crimson 2-1 on a frosty Friday night with Bente Baekers leading the way for the Wildcat offense. Baekers put up four shots on goal and eventually knocked in the game-winner on a penalty corner.
"I'm really happy she was able to put it away and finish when the team needed her most," Kayla Blas told reporters after the game. "It's something she's been doing all season. She's definitely clutch and she comes up in huge moments."
Northwestern's defense was also on display against a successful Harvard team. The Wildcat backline held the Crimson to just three shots and two penalty corners over the whole game.
"I think our defense has been as good as it gets this year," Head Coach Tracey Fuchs said. "So we knew we could take chances on attack and we'd have people to cover us."
Instead of a defensive contest, Sunday's championship game will be a battle between two powerhouse offenses. Liberty leads the nation in scoring average at 3.61 per game, while Northwestern follows closely behind at 3.44.
"It's going to be a quick turnaround and we've got a lot to do in the next day and a half," Fuchs said. "I expect them to come out storming and we're going to come out storming. It might be a 6-5 game, but as long as purple is on top I'll be happy."
Northwestern faced Liberty earlier this season in September where they came out with a 4-3 win. Clara Roth notched the game-winner against the Flames with just two minutes left in regulation, another clutch play like the penalty corner that sent them to this point.
"To see them execute that corner in overtime was really rewarding and a tribute to all the work they've put in this season." Fuchs said with a smile on her face.
The championship is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
