:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69042766/Wadas_GW.0.jpeg)
No. 5 Northwestern field hockey (8-2, 4-2 B1G) earned three statement wins over the past two weeks, defeating No. 11 Michigan once and sweeping Ohio State in consecutive overtime matchups.
The Wildcats faced the Wolverines twice, splitting 1-1 with the second-best team they’ve faced all year. In their first matchup, senior captain Mackenzie Keegan scored both of the team’s goals, striking first just 58 seconds into the game off a penalty corner rebound. Michigan equalized it three minutes later, but two Wolverine goals in the fourth quarter gave them a 3-1 advantage.
Keegan scored her second goal off a corner with six minutes to play, but the Wildcats couldn’t find the tying score in the final minutes and ultimately fell 3-2.
Three days later, NU bounced back with a 1-0 overtime victory, as first year Maddie Zimmer delivered the game-winning goal 7:39 into overtime.
Then, this past weekend Northwestern hosted Ohio State at Lakeside Field. On Friday, Northwestern earned its seventh win of the season by a 4-3 margin. The Wildcats took a 3-1 advantage with two first-quarter goals from Bente Baekers and one from Lakin Barry. The Buckeyes then tied it up to send the game to overtime, but with 30 seconds left in the first OT period, Ana Medina Garcia won it for NU.
The victory was head coach Tracey Fuchs’ 141st of her career, which passed Nancy Stevens for the most by a head coach at Northwestern.
In their next matchup two days later, the Buckeyes jumped out to a 2-0 lead by the half. The Wildcats managed to tie it up in the final six minutes of regulation with goals from Lauren Wadas and Garcia.
After a scoreless 10 minutes in overtime, Wadas scored her second goal of the game 28 seconds into the second overtime period to earn Northwestern its third consecutive overtime win.
The Wildcats will travel to Piscataway to take on No. 10 Rutgers next weekend before returning home to close out the regular season against No. 2 Iowa.