NORTHWESTERN FIELD HOCKEY: GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	TELEVISION	STATS
Friday, November 18	No. 2 Maryland	2 p.m. CT	Storrs, Conn.	ESPN+	Live Stats
Social: Twitter: @NUFHCats Instagram: @NUFHCats

STORRS, Conn. – No. 3 and two-seed Northwestern meets No. 2 and three-seed Maryland in the NCAA Tournament Final Four Friday at 2 p.m. CT. The game is hosted in Storrs, Conn. and will be streamed on ESPN+.

STORYLINES

» The Wildcats punched their ticket to a second straight Final Four with a thrilling penalty shootout victory over Iowa in Evanston last Sunday. It marked the first time in program history that Northwestern has advanced to the NCAA semifinals in consecutive seasons and the team's sixth-ever Final Four appearance. The Wildcats have won six straight NCAA Tournament games dating back to last year's run to the national championship, and they are now 19-17 all-time over 18 appearances in the Big Dance.

»Dubbed the Cardiac 'Cats for its prowess in clutch situations, Northwestern has posted a 7-1 record in overtime games this year, including back-to-back penalty shootout wins in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats' eight overtime games are the most in a season in program history, surpassing the previous high of five, and their seven wins pace the country. Northwestern has gone a perfect 3-0 in overtime this postseason and now boast a 4-1 all-time record in NCAA Tournament penalty shootouts, having won four straight since 1985.

The ????N???? ??????R clinching shootout ?? pic.twitter.com/ulMfCpWLNJ
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 13, 2022

» Northwestern Head Coach Tracey Fuchs returns to her alma mater this weekend with the Final Four and championship game hosted at UConn's campus in Storrs, Conn. Fuchs earned All-American recognition three times and won the 1987 Honda Broderick award as a player with UConn, where she helped the Huskies win the 1985 national championship. Fuchs also began her coaching career as an assistant at UConn.

» The Wildcats have dominated penalty corners in 2022, leading the Big Ten with 182 and 7.9 per game. The primary corner unit of Alia Marshall, Kayla Blas and Bente Baekers teamed up on their seventh goal of the season to force overtime against Iowa last weekend. Their seven goals rank first among all trios in the Big Ten and second among all trios in this year's NCAA Tournament.

DRAWN UP TO PERFECTION ??

Baekers finishes off the penalty corner and this one is TIED!!! pic.twitter.com/HxwS75vWEj
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 13, 2022

» Goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz made the crucial save on the finally penalty shot against Iowa Sunday to send Northwestern to the semifinals, her latest historic moment this season. Skubisz has made 99 saves this year and is positioned to become the first Northwestern goalie with 100 saves in a season since 2016. She has also posted five shutouts to move into a tie for sixth most in Northwestern history. Her 1,453 minutes played in goal this season are over 100 more than the next closest keeper in the nation.

MATCHUP INFO

NO. 2 MARYLAND (Friday, November 18, 2 p.m. CT)

» Friday's matchup is the second time Northwestern and Maryland have met in a tournament semifinal this season, having already played each other in the Big Ten Tournament semis two weeks ago. The Wildcats prevailed 2-1 in that contest to secure their third-ever trip to the Big Ten Tournament title game thanks to goals from Alia Marshall and Peyton Halsey.

» The semifinal matchup will be the first time the Wildcats and Terrapins have ever met in the NCAA Tournament. Maryland is the only other team remaining that also appeared in last year's Final Four.

» This is the second straight NCAA Tournament that the Wildcats have met a Big Ten foe. Three of the Final Four teams represent the Big Ten for the first time in history.

Northwestern to Face Maryland in Final Four

STORYLINES

MATCHUP INFO

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bente Baekers

Kayla Blas

Peyton Halsey

Alia Marshall

Annabel Skubisz

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern to Face Maryland in Final Four

STORYLINES

MATCHUP INFO

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bente Baekers

Kayla Blas

Peyton Halsey

Alia Marshall

Annabel Skubisz

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