Northwestern University Athletics
Sunday, August 28
Amherst, MA
12 P.M. CT
Northwestern
5
vs
1
#22 Maine
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler / NUSports.com
Baekers Four Goals Lead No. 1 Northwestern Past No. 22 Maine
8/28/2022 1:44:00 PM | Field Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. – No. 1 Northwestern beat No. 22 Maine 5-1 Sunday behind a career-high four goals from fifth-year forward Bente Baekers. The win marks the fourth season opening victory for the Wildcats and their fifth in the last six years to kick of their defense of the 2021 national title.
Scoreless coming out of halftime, Baekers scored three goals in the span of nine minutes to put Northwestern in front 3-0 in the 43rd minute. Reaching three goals in one quarter secured Baekers eighth collegiate hat trick. She added a fourth in the 55th minute to become the first Northwestern player to score four goals in a game since Pascale Massey accomplished the feat against Central Michigan in 2016.
Her first goal of the game also brought her to 141 career points, breaking a tie with Sannie Van Dijk for second place in career points in Northwestern history. Chelsea Armstrong ranks first with 238 career points.
Baekers has now scored eight goals across three contests all time against Maine.
Lauren Wadas, Kaylas Blas, Ana Medina Garcia and Lane Herbert all recorded assists.
The win brings Northwestern to 4-2 all time against the Black Bears and marks the second straight win in the all-time series for Northwestern. The Wildcats won 5-0 when the teams met in Evanston last season.
Northwestern outshot Maine 25-6, including an 11-1 edge on shots on goal. The Wildcats kept Maine scoreless until the 53rd minute when the Black Bears broke up the shutout. Goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz already ranks ninth in Northwestern history in career shutouts with six.
Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action in Amherst, Massachusetts again tomorrow to take on host UMass. Game time is slated for noon CT. There will be no video stream of the game.
Scoreless coming out of halftime, Baekers scored three goals in the span of nine minutes to put Northwestern in front 3-0 in the 43rd minute. Reaching three goals in one quarter secured Baekers eighth collegiate hat trick. She added a fourth in the 55th minute to become the first Northwestern player to score four goals in a game since Pascale Massey accomplished the feat against Central Michigan in 2016.
Her first goal of the game also brought her to 141 career points, breaking a tie with Sannie Van Dijk for second place in career points in Northwestern history. Chelsea Armstrong ranks first with 238 career points.
Baekers has now scored eight goals across three contests all time against Maine.
Peyton Halsey also fired home for Northwestern, scoring her first goal of the season and her first goal since September 10, 2021. Halsey has now scored a goal in three consecutive season openers.National champions doing national champion things ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) August 28, 2022
Relive all five Northwestern goals from today's season opening win: pic.twitter.com/CnnbJEvXJf
Lauren Wadas, Kaylas Blas, Ana Medina Garcia and Lane Herbert all recorded assists.
The win brings Northwestern to 4-2 all time against the Black Bears and marks the second straight win in the all-time series for Northwestern. The Wildcats won 5-0 when the teams met in Evanston last season.
Northwestern outshot Maine 25-6, including an 11-1 edge on shots on goal. The Wildcats kept Maine scoreless until the 53rd minute when the Black Bears broke up the shutout. Goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz already ranks ninth in Northwestern history in career shutouts with six.
Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action in Amherst, Massachusetts again tomorrow to take on host UMass. Game time is slated for noon CT. There will be no video stream of the game.
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