Northwestern University Athletics
Thursday, November 3
Columbus, OH
4 P.M. CT
Northwestern
2
vs
1
#18 Rutgers
Photo by: Adam Cairns
No. 4 Northwestern Advances to Big Ten Semifinals with 2-1 Overtime Win vs. Rutgers
11/3/2022 4:58:00 PM | Field Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 4 Northwestern secured a 2-1 overtime victory over No. 18 Rutgers in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday, advancing to the conference semifinals for the third time in the last four years. It marked the Wildcats fifth overtime win this year, the most in the Big Ten.
After dominating the stat sheet through the first half, taking advantages 8-1 in penalty corners and 13-2 in shots, Lauren Wadas shattered the stalemate with a goal off a penalty corner just before halftime. It marked Wadas' third goal in four games and her second career postseason goal, the other being the game-winner in last year's NCAA quarterfinals.
Alia Marshall, on the insert, and Kayla Blas, on the stick stop, recorded assists on the goal, their 10th and 13th, respectively. Blas, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, has now tallied an assist in five straight games and has set a career high for assists in a season. Marshall has recorded an assist in four straight games and has reached double digit assists for the first time in her career.
The Scarlet Knights answered after the break, equalizing in the 37th minute. The defenses held firm for the remainder of regulation, sending the quarterfinal match into overtime with the score tied at 1-1.
Northwestern has thrived in the extra frame this season, entering Thursday's game 4-1 in overtime games. Thursday was no different.
Midway through overtime, Maddie Zimmer made a crucial tackle deep in Rutgers territory and fed a pass through to Bente Baekers who completed the heads up play to draw a penalty stroke.
Senior Captain Peyton Halsey stepped to the spot and buried the shot in the bottom left corner to walk off the Scarlet Knights. It marked Halsey's second overtime penalty stroke golden goal of the season, previously doing so to beat Penn State in September. Halsey is a perfect 3-of-3 on penalty strokes this season.
The win sends Northwestern to the Big Ten semifinals where the Wildcats will meet two-seed and No. 2 Maryland tomorrow in Columbus, Ohio. The game is set for 3 p.m. CT and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
After dominating the stat sheet through the first half, taking advantages 8-1 in penalty corners and 13-2 in shots, Lauren Wadas shattered the stalemate with a goal off a penalty corner just before halftime. It marked Wadas' third goal in four games and her second career postseason goal, the other being the game-winner in last year's NCAA quarterfinals.
Alia Marshall, on the insert, and Kayla Blas, on the stick stop, recorded assists on the goal, their 10th and 13th, respectively. Blas, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, has now tallied an assist in five straight games and has set a career high for assists in a season. Marshall has recorded an assist in four straight games and has reached double digit assists for the first time in her career.
UNTIL IT BREAKS ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 3, 2022
Lauren Wadas hammers the penalty corner to give Northwestern a 1-0 lead before half ?? pic.twitter.com/nurZkBwfAu
The Scarlet Knights answered after the break, equalizing in the 37th minute. The defenses held firm for the remainder of regulation, sending the quarterfinal match into overtime with the score tied at 1-1.
Northwestern has thrived in the extra frame this season, entering Thursday's game 4-1 in overtime games. Thursday was no different.
Midway through overtime, Maddie Zimmer made a crucial tackle deep in Rutgers territory and fed a pass through to Bente Baekers who completed the heads up play to draw a penalty stroke.
Senior Captain Peyton Halsey stepped to the spot and buried the shot in the bottom left corner to walk off the Scarlet Knights. It marked Halsey's second overtime penalty stroke golden goal of the season, previously doing so to beat Penn State in September. Halsey is a perfect 3-of-3 on penalty strokes this season.
PEYTON HALSEY HAS ICE IN HER VEINS!!!! ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 3, 2022
GAME WINNER GAME WINNER GAME WINNER!!! pic.twitter.com/Kr5XMW0qOz
The win sends Northwestern to the Big Ten semifinals where the Wildcats will meet two-seed and No. 2 Maryland tomorrow in Columbus, Ohio. The game is set for 3 p.m. CT and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
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