BOSTON -- Freshman Pascale Massey recorded two goals, including notching the game-winning goal with 4:53 left in the second overtime as 14th-ranked Northwestern opened its 2014 season with a 3-2 win over Boston University Friday afternoon.
"We are very happy to pull out the overtime win today," Northwestern head coach Tracey Fuchs said. "We had such a great team effort today and many chances on an excellent goalkeeper from BU. Our defense was steady as usual and we generated 19 shots. We still have work to do but a great way to start the season."
Northwestern earned the first penalty corner of the contest five minutes into the match but Dominique Masters nearly missed as her shot rung off the post. The Wildcats kept the pressure on and Kelsey Thompson recorded a shot on goal a minute later, but BU goalkeeper Valentina Cerda Eimbcke managed to make the save.
Northwestern dominated possession throughout the high majority of the opening half and its efforts nearly paid off with 7:15 left in the half as Massey turned and fired a shot but the ball trickled just wide of the cage.
The Wildcats' efforts eventually paid off with just 41.6 seconds remaining in the first stanza. The third penalty corner of the period proved to be a charm as NU's initial shot was blocked, but Massey deflected in an ensuing shot by Masters for the first goal of her collegiate career.
The 'Cats recorded six first-half shots without allowing the Terriers to get off one of their own. Northwestern also held a 3-0 advantage in penalty corners.
BU managed to get the equalizer just 2:26 into the second half as the Terriers scored on their first shot of the game. A charging Maddy Carpenter thwarted the initial rush toward the cage, but the rebound came to Hester van der Laan and she was able to beat Carpenter to make it 1-1.
Massey narrowly missed on another chance that went just wide that would have given NU the lead back. However, the `Cats did mount the go-ahead goal at 39:06. Ashley Bernardi fed a pass across the cage to Masters who was all alone at the back post for the tally.
Northwestern did a good job of limiting BU's shots, but the hosts scored their second goal on just three shots as van der Laan notched her second of the match in the 54th minute to things once again, 2-2.
Massey continued to be a major threat as she recorded consecutive shots on goal with just over five minutes left in regulation but Cerda Eimbcke made back-to-back saves to maintain the tie. The Terriers earned three penalty corners down the stretch, but Northwestern turned away BU each time as the match eventually headed to overtime.
Five minutes into the first extra session, Caroline Troncelliti was able to get in alone behind the Terriers' defense and was alone with Cerda Eimbcke but the BU keeper made the save to deny the potential game-winner.
Northwestern turned away a BU penalty corner attempt before earning one of its own with a minute left in the period, but neither team could convert as the match went to a second extra session.
Massey had yet another golden opportunity in the opening 10 seconds of the second OT, but her shot rolled just wide. The freshman would not be denied as she recorded the game-winner with just under five minutes left, whirling around from the left side of the cage and firing a rocket past Cerda Eimbcke from a tough angle.
The 'Cats finished with a 19-8 edge in shots and an 8-4 advantage in penalty corners.
Northwestern continues its season-opening road trip to the East Coast on Sunday as it travels to third-ranked Connecticut for an 11 a.m. Central time start.