COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 1-seeded Northwestern field hockey team (17-2, 7-1 Big Ten) defeated No. 5 Indiana (10-8, 4-4 Big Ten) 3-0 in Friday’s Big Ten Tournament semifinals, powered by fast-paced play and strong defensive efforts. The Wildcats pulled off their ninth shutout of the season, behind a career-best performance from goalkeeper Juliana Boon. With the victory, the ‘Cats advance to their fifth-straight Big Ten Tournament championship game.
This season’s Big Ten Player of the Year, Ashley Sessa, led Northwestern’s offense with a goal and an assist, while Olivia Bent-Cole and Raquel Hofmeister both contributed goals as well. In the net, Boon tallied a career-high eight saves to earn her 18th career shutout.
Northwestern began the contest by stopping four consecutive penalty corner attempts from the Hoosiers, which involved two consecutive saves from Boon. Sol Martinez took the first shot of the day for the ‘Cats in the sixth minute, the ball rolling just wide of the goalpost.
Indiana returned to the circle three minutes later, but Hoosier Hannah Riddle’s scoring attempt was kicked away by Boon. The ball then went to the other side of the field for NU’s best chance of the day; however, Indiana goalie Sadie Canelli blocked both shots, paving the way for a scoreless first quarter.
In the 22nd minute, Northwestern got on the board first. Bent-Cole drew the ‘Cats’ first corner of the day, and Hofmeister scored on a precise dragflick shot near the post. The goal was the first-year’s fourth of her season and career.
The ‘Cats continued to put offensive pressure on the Hoosiers throughout the second quarter, winning two more corners. Indiana got one more attempt to score before halftime, but Boon got in front of two shots with her shin pads, bringing her save total to six.
Northwestern led 1-0 at halftime, even though Indiana was winning 8-7 in the shot battle. In addition, the Hoosiers had six corners compared to the ‘Cats' three.
Sessa scored Northwestern’s second goal of the day in the 33rd minute. She received the ball just outside the circle, ran in and maneuvered around Canelli with a diving shot into the back of the cage. Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection Kiera Sack stepped up with two big defensive plays around two minutes later as she took Gabriela Garayo Aranceta’s shot to the head to block a corner attempt, and then stopped the next Hoosier shot.
Olivia Bent-Cole sealed the win for Northwestern in the 46th minute with her ninth goal of the year. The senior forward received a pass from Sessa while driving directly to Canelli in the cage, putting the ‘Cats up 3-0 off the one-on-one situation.
Northwestern will await the winner of Friday’s second semifinal game between No. 2 Maryland and No. 6 Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament championship game, which will take place on Nov. 8 at 11 a.m. CT. With a win, the ‘Cats would capture their second consecutive and fourth overall Big Ten Tournament Championship.