EVANSTON, Ill – No. 12 Northwestern scored a double-overtime walk-off winner to defeat No. 15 Stanford on Sunday afternoon at Lakeside field.
Saar de Breij scored the decisive goal three minutes into the second overtime period after ending up one-on-one with the Stanford goalkeeper.
Northwestern earned its first win of the season and moved to 1-1 after two tough tests against No. 1 UConn and the 15th-ranked Cardinal. NU now leads the all-time series against Stanford, 13-7.
Kirsten Mansfield and Lily Katzman scored the other two goals for the 'Cats. Senior Puck Pentenga finished with a trio of assists and first year and Kayla Blas notched an assist.
Junior Annie Kalfas got the start and played all 84 minutes, allowing two goals and making five strong saves.
Northwestern outshot Stanford 21-15 and held a narrow 11-10 advantage in penalty corners.
The Wildcats started the match on the front foot with three penalty corners within the first 15 minutes. On the third corner, Mansfield played into Blas, who teed up for Pentenga. The senior from the Netherlands fired low and to the left onto the waiting stick of Mansfield, who popped it into the net for her first goal of the season to make it 1-0.
Just three minutes into the second half, the 'Cats doubled their lead on another penalty corner. Pentenga's first shot from the corner bounced into a mass of defenders. The ball found its way to Seidel, who worked over to Katzman, who stabbed it home for her first goal of the season to make it 2-0.
Stanford came alive for a 15 minute stretch, pressing to get back in the game. The Cardinal converted two penalty corners in the 48th minute and the 55th minute to claw back to a 2-2 scoreline.
The 'Cats nearly regained the lead ten minutes later when Pentenga's shot from a penalty corner flashed past the keeper only to clatter against the post.
Stanford almost walked the match off with an untimed corner at the end of regulation, but the Wildcat defense held firm and sent the game into overtime.
The Cardinal opened the first overtime with two penalty corners, but the 'Cats repelled them both. Pentenga nearly scored at the five-minute mark but the Stanford keeper denied her with a outstretched save.
Three minutes into the second overtime, Pentenga streaked down the left sideline as Stanford scrambled to get back. The senior threaded a ball to De Breij in the box, whose first touch deftly put her in on goal with just the keeper to beat. After a moment's hesitation, she chipped the keeper from close range to win the match 3-2.
Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action next week at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge hosted by Maryland, where it will face No. 3 Duke on Friday and No. 13 Boston College on Sunday.
Hear from Head Coach Tracey Fuchs on the dramatic first win of the season for the #B1GCats. pic.twitter.com/nIgeyCRp96
— Northwestern FH (@NUFHCats) August 26, 2018
Saar de Breij scored the decisive goal three minutes into the second overtime period after ending up one-on-one with the Stanford goalkeeper.
Double Overtime. Saar De Breij. Ice in her veins.
— Northwestern FH (@NUFHCats) August 26, 2018
Check out this sweet #B1GCats walk-off winner over No. 15 Stanford. pic.twitter.com/pTP4dmU4Hr
Northwestern earned its first win of the season and moved to 1-1 after two tough tests against No. 1 UConn and the 15th-ranked Cardinal. NU now leads the all-time series against Stanford, 13-7.
Kirsten Mansfield and Lily Katzman scored the other two goals for the 'Cats. Senior Puck Pentenga finished with a trio of assists and first year and Kayla Blas notched an assist.
Junior Annie Kalfas got the start and played all 84 minutes, allowing two goals and making five strong saves.
Northwestern outshot Stanford 21-15 and held a narrow 11-10 advantage in penalty corners.
The Wildcats started the match on the front foot with three penalty corners within the first 15 minutes. On the third corner, Mansfield played into Blas, who teed up for Pentenga. The senior from the Netherlands fired low and to the left onto the waiting stick of Mansfield, who popped it into the net for her first goal of the season to make it 1-0.
Just three minutes into the second half, the 'Cats doubled their lead on another penalty corner. Pentenga's first shot from the corner bounced into a mass of defenders. The ball found its way to Seidel, who worked over to Katzman, who stabbed it home for her first goal of the season to make it 2-0.
Stanford came alive for a 15 minute stretch, pressing to get back in the game. The Cardinal converted two penalty corners in the 48th minute and the 55th minute to claw back to a 2-2 scoreline.
The 'Cats nearly regained the lead ten minutes later when Pentenga's shot from a penalty corner flashed past the keeper only to clatter against the post.
Stanford almost walked the match off with an untimed corner at the end of regulation, but the Wildcat defense held firm and sent the game into overtime.
The Cardinal opened the first overtime with two penalty corners, but the 'Cats repelled them both. Pentenga nearly scored at the five-minute mark but the Stanford keeper denied her with a outstretched save.
Three minutes into the second overtime, Pentenga streaked down the left sideline as Stanford scrambled to get back. The senior threaded a ball to De Breij in the box, whose first touch deftly put her in on goal with just the keeper to beat. After a moment's hesitation, she chipped the keeper from close range to win the match 3-2.
Chicago's Big Ten Team is back in action next week at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge hosted by Maryland, where it will face No. 3 Duke on Friday and No. 13 Boston College on Sunday.