'Cats to Launch NCAA Tournament Title Defense Against Miami (OH)

11/9/2022 12:04:00 PM | Field Hockey

NORTHWESTERN FIELD HOCKEY: GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	TELEVISION	STATS
Friday, November 11	No. 25 Miami (OH)	Noon CT	Evanston, Ill. Lakeside Field	Big Ten Plus (FREE)	Live Stats
Social: Twitter: @NUFHCats Instagram: @NUFHCats

EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 3 Northwestern hosts No. 25 as the two seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday at Lakeside Field. The game is set to start at noon CT on Big Ten Plus with no paywall.

STORYLINES

» Northwestern clinched the NCAA Tournament two seed and NCAA hosting rights following last weekend's run through the Big Ten Tournament. It marked the Wildcats' fourth straight trip to the Big Dance, a stretch of postseason berths that has seen Northwestern advance further each year, last year making it all the way to the championship game where it defeated Liberty for the first national title in program history.

The moment we knew.

POSTSEASON FIELD HOCKEY IS COMING TO EVANSTON ?? pic.twitter.com/UcqDbS8oiJ
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 7, 2022

» The Wildcats enter the NCAA Tournament after advancing all the way to the Big Ten title game for the third time in program history last weekend. Northwestern took down then-No. 18 Rutgers in the quarterfinals on Peyton Halsey's walk-off penalty stroke in overtime before dismantling No. 2 Maryland in the semifinals. Alia Marshall and Lauren Wadas both earned selection to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team for their performances on the run as Marshall recorded a goal, an assist and a defensive save while Wadas scored two goals.

Still trying to figure out how Lauren Wadas scored this goal ??#B1GCats | #NUFH pic.twitter.com/HyViuXU4JU
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 7, 2022

» Chicago's Big Ten Team posted a perfect 10-0 record against non-conference opponents during the regular season, a record that includes seven wins over ranked competition and four over top-15 teams. It's the first time in 37 years and just the second time in Northwestern history that Wildcats have taken a perfect non-conference record into the NCAA Tournament.

» 2022 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Kayla Blas made history in the Big Ten Tournament by playing in her 100th career game as a Wildcat, the first student-athlete to ever reach that milestone. She has recorded a career-high 14 assists this year, a mark that leads the team and ranks second in the Big Ten, and has assisted a goal in six of the last seven games.

» Goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz posted three shutouts and allowed just one goal during last year's run to the NCAA Tournament. This year, the Houston, Texas native has recorded five shutouts, including three straight in September, and a career-high 90 saves. She is now tied for sixth in Northwestern history in career shutouts and ranks seventh in career saves.

MATCHUP INFO

NO. 25 Miami (OH) (Friday, November 11, Noon CT)

» Northwestern won the previous meeting 3-1 with Miami (OH) in the final game of the regular season and have won 11 straight in the all-time series with the RedHawks dating back to 2008.

» Friday's game will be the 20th all-time meeting between Northwestern and Miami (OH) and their first-ever postseason matchup.

» The RedHawks jumped back into the NFHCA rankings at No. 25 this week for the first time since September 13 after winning their fifth straight MAC Tournament title. They won their NCAA Tournament play-in game against Rider 7-1 on Wednesday in Evanston.