BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – No. 4 Northwestern capped Big Ten regular season play with a 2-1 victory over Indiana Friday. The win locked the Wildcats into the Big Ten Tournament three seed with a 5-3 record in the conference and a 14-3 record overall.
Coming out of halftime tied 0-0, Northwestern again utilized elite halftime adjustments to take the lead in the third quarter. Senior midfielder Peyton Halsey struck first, finishing off a pass from Bente Baekers to put Northwestern on top in the 43rd minute. It marked Halsey's 10th goal of the season, her first ever double-digit campaign and the second Wildcat with 10 or more goals this year.
Baekers followed suit less than three minutes later, scoring off a penalty corner to push Northwestern's lead to 2-0 at the end of the third. The Netherlands native has now scored 21 goals in 2022, more than any one else in the nation. Factoring in her seventh assist of the year on Halsey's goal, Baekers has also totaled 49 points this year.
Alia Marshall, the inserter, and Kayla Blas, the stick setter, both earned assists on the goal, their eighth and 11th assists of the year, respectively.
The third-quarter dominance is nothing new for the 'Cats. They have now scored 17 of their 49 goals in the third quarter this season, nearly 35%. Additionally, they have scored 31 goals (63%) in the second half or overtime this year.
Northwestern's defense held the Hoosiers scoreless on just four shots and no penalty corners through the first three quarters, capping 19 straight quarters the Wildcats had played against Indiana without allowing a goal. The home team managed a goal in the 50th minute, but it could not catch the 'Cats.
Chicago's Big Ten Team wraps up the regular season Sunday at Miami (OH) with the game set to start at 11 a.m. CT on YouTube.
The Big Ten Tournament begins next Thursday in Columbus, Ohio. Three-seed Northwestern will face the to-be-determined six seed at 4 p.m. CT on Big Ten Plus.
Coming out of halftime tied 0-0, Northwestern again utilized elite halftime adjustments to take the lead in the third quarter. Senior midfielder Peyton Halsey struck first, finishing off a pass from Bente Baekers to put Northwestern on top in the 43rd minute. It marked Halsey's 10th goal of the season, her first ever double-digit campaign and the second Wildcat with 10 or more goals this year.
Scarier than Halloween? The second-half 'Cats ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 28, 2022
Peyton Halsey finds the back of the cage to give Northwestern a 1-0 lead in the third!!! pic.twitter.com/Ek2heuC6XI
Baekers followed suit less than three minutes later, scoring off a penalty corner to push Northwestern's lead to 2-0 at the end of the third. The Netherlands native has now scored 21 goals in 2022, more than any one else in the nation. Factoring in her seventh assist of the year on Halsey's goal, Baekers has also totaled 49 points this year.
Alia Marshall, the inserter, and Kayla Blas, the stick setter, both earned assists on the goal, their eighth and 11th assists of the year, respectively.
Bente!!! Number 2??1??!!!
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 28, 2022
Northwestern takes the 2-0 lead as we head to the fourth quarter ?? pic.twitter.com/69U319MHzc
The third-quarter dominance is nothing new for the 'Cats. They have now scored 17 of their 49 goals in the third quarter this season, nearly 35%. Additionally, they have scored 31 goals (63%) in the second half or overtime this year.
Northwestern's defense held the Hoosiers scoreless on just four shots and no penalty corners through the first three quarters, capping 19 straight quarters the Wildcats had played against Indiana without allowing a goal. The home team managed a goal in the 50th minute, but it could not catch the 'Cats.
Chicago's Big Ten Team wraps up the regular season Sunday at Miami (OH) with the game set to start at 11 a.m. CT on YouTube.
The Big Ten Tournament begins next Thursday in Columbus, Ohio. Three-seed Northwestern will face the to-be-determined six seed at 4 p.m. CT on Big Ten Plus.