NCAA Tournament Kicks Off in Evanston Regional

Friday, November 10

Evanston, Ill.

12 p.m. CT

Northwestern

Miami (OH)

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October 26, 2023, Evanston, IL: A game between Northwestern Field Hockey and Maryland at Lakeside Field in Evanston, IL on Thursday, October 26, 2023. (Photo by Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics)

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

NCAA Tournament Kicks Off in Evanston Regional

11/9/2023 7:19:00 PM | Field Hockey

Evanston, Ill. — For the second-straight season, Northwestern Field Hockey will open the NCAA Tournament at Lakeside Field, hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. Ranked first in the coaches poll to end the season, the Wildcats received the No. 2 seed in the bracket and the accompanying regional. The Wildcats will take on Miami (OH) at noon CT on Friday at Lakeside Field.

Storylines

Northwestern comes into the NCAA tournament on the heels of a Big Ten Tournament Championship, its second-ever and first since 2014. The 'Cats also won the outright Big Ten regular season title for the first time since 1994 with an undefeated conference season. This marked the first time in program history in which Northwestern swept both the regular season and conference tournament titles.
The 'Cats enter Friday's game on a program-record 18 game winning streak.
Northwestern has been the best defensive team in the nation this season, allowing a mere 10 goals all season, good for 0.52 per game. Senior goalie Annabel Skubisz leads the nation in goals against and save percentage with an .872. She has 12 shutouts in 19 games.
Northwestern had three players named to the All-Big Ten tournament team on Sunday. Skubisz received Tournament MVP for her efforts while freshman Olivia Bent-Cole, who netted the game winning goal in the final in 2OT against Maryland, and senior midfielder Katie Jones also received tournament honors.
With a win over Miami (OH), Northwestern would take on the winner of Iowa vs. Louisville on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT at Lakeside Field. Northwestern defeated Iowa in Iowa City earlier this season by a score of 2-0. Northwestern dropped its season opener against Louisville at Lakeside field 1-0 on August 27 in what marked the Wildcats' lone setback this season.
Northwestern is looking to appear in their third straight national title game for the first time in school history. They would be the first Big Ten team to do so since Maryland appeared in four straight from 2008-11.