WATCH: Dom Masters scores to make it 1-1
WATCH: The game-winning goal goes to video review
WATCH: Postgame interview with Dom Masters
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Dominique Masters scored twice, including the golden goal just over a minute into overtime to give the Northwestern field hockey team a 2-1 win over Michigan and a berth in Sunday's Big Ten tournament championship game.
With the win, the third-seeded Wildcats advance to take on top-seeded Maryland in Sunday's title tilt. NU defeated the Terrapins 3-2 in the regular-season meeting between the teams Oct. 20 in Evanston. Maryland defeated fourth-seeded Penn State 1-0 in Friday's first semifinal.
"I am very happy with our second half today," Northwestern head coach Tracey Fuchs said. We stepped up and really created many scoring opportunities. It was a team effort. We played through adversity and it paid off. I'm extremely proud of our effort."
The 'Cats were pushed back on their heels right at the start of the contest as the Wolverines earned a penalty corner in the opening minute of play and scored just 70 seconds in to the contest when Carly Bennett scored off Leslie Smith's assist.
Forced to play from behind, Northwestern responded as it went on the attack and held the offensive advantage through the majority of the remainder of the opening stanza. The Wildcats created multiple quality scoring chances, but weren't able to cash in despite holding a 7-3 edge in shots and a 5-3 advantage in penalty corners over the opening 35 minutes of play.
NU continued to push forward at the open of the second half and the pressure eventually paid off at 43:27. Masters ripped a shot past Sam Swenson from the top of the circle into the left corner of the goal to tie the match, 1-1. Lisa McCarthy and Charlotte Martin were credited with assists on the play, while Lena Phillips created the corner by drawing a Michigan foul.
The Wildcats kept the pressure on and it nearly paid off with two minutes remaining in regulation. Northwestern earned another penalty corner and Caroline Troncelliti put the rebound in past Swenson but it was ruled to have hit Troncelliti's foot first, nullifying the goal.
The contest would go to overtime where the Wildcats made quick work of the Wolverines. With the field opening up as the contest went to a 7-on-7 matchup, Troncelliti made a run into the circle and drew a Michigan foul to earn a penalty corner just one minute into the period.
Again, it was Masters who delivered as she received McCarthy's insertion pass and fired a rocket on target. The shot deflected off a Michigan player's stick and into the goal, giving Northwestern the walk-off win. A lengthy delay ensued following the goal as the officials went to a video review, but the goal was eventually confirmed setting off a wild celebration by the 'Cats.
Northwestern finished the match with advantages of 13-8 in shots and 10-4 in penalty corners. The Big Ten tournament championship game berth is the Wildcats second all-time, joining an appearance in 1994.