Northwestern Beats Michigan State, 3-1, in Season Opener

Saturday, February 27

Virginia Beach

1:30 pm CT

Northwestern

(1-0)

Michigan State

(0-2)

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Northwestern	0	1	1	1	3
Michigan St.	1	0	0	0	1

Northwestern Beats Michigan State, 3-1, in Season Opener

2/27/2021 6:29:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Northwestern returned to the field Saturday after a 470-day offseason and exited victorious, taking down Michigan State 3-1. The 'Cats have now won three of their last four season openers, and they have won 10-straight against the Spartans.

Sophomore Peyton Halsey led the way for the Wildcats, netting two goals with three shots on goal. Her second, assisted by Bente Baekers in the 43rd minute, ultimately proved to be the difference maker and the first game winner of her Northwestern career. Ana Medina Garcia was credited with the assist on Halsey's first goal.

First-year Maddie Zimmer closed scoring for Northwestern when she found the back of the net in the 54th minute. Zimmer shined in her collegiate debut, adding a team-high five shots on goal to her first goal in the Purple and White. Katie Jones also made her collegiate debut after getting the start in the midfield.

Michigan State opened scoring in the fourth minute, but Northwestern dominated the rest of the way, outshooting the Spartans 16-4 with 14 shots on goal. The Spartans couldn't handle Northwestern's onslaught up and down the field as Chicago's Big Ten Team allowed just one shot after the first quarter while firing 13 of its own over the same stretch.

Florien Marcusson started in goal for the 'Cats and recorded one save en route to the win.

Northwestern will be back in action tomorrow to take on Maryland in Virginia Beach. The contest is slated to start at 2 p.m. CT with live coverage on the Big Ten Network +.