EVANSTON, Ill. – No. 1 Northwestern rode a five-goal offensive outburst in the second half to a 6-1 win over UMass on Sunday at Lakeside Field.
Leading 1-0 at halftime on sophomore forward Olivia Bent-Cole's third goal of the season, the Northwestern offense opened things up in the third on a goal from graduate forward Lauren Wadas just under two minutes into the quarter, assisted by senior Lauren Hunter and sophomore Ashley Sessa.Clocked in a TEAM win ???? #EarnIt pic.twitter.com/CVgFFicvb3
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) September 1, 2024
Three-and-a-half minutes later, senior Maddie Zimmer found the back of the cage for her first goal of the season, winding her way around UMass goalie Myrte Van Herwijnen for an impressive tally.Thats goal No. 3? on the season for our No. 3? #Earnit
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) September 1, 2024
Olivia Bent-Cole with the takeaway & finish ?? pic.twitter.com/hJMUxykb7e
Maddie Zimmer Masterclass ?? https://t.co/KDhEr4isdr pic.twitter.com/4a69nQ90Kk
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) September 1, 2024
In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats added more goals to their tally. Zimmer scored again when her shot deflected off a UMass defender into the net, with assists from Hunter and Sessa. This goal further solidified Northwestern's lead.
Following a goal from the Minutewomen to make it 5-1, Wildcat sophomore Ilse Tromp restored the five-goal lead off of a corner with 5:08 remaining, assisted by Zimmer and Sessa.
After holding Maine shotless for almost three quarters in Friday's season opener, the Wildcats held UMass without a scoring chance until late in the second quarter, in a game where Northwestern held the overall shot advantage, 22-6. In net, graduate Annabel Skubisz allowed just one goal after posting a shutout in the season opener on Friday.
The Wildcats will return to action on Friday at 11 a.m. CT when they host Duke at Lakeside Field in a rematch of last year's Final Four, a game Northwestern won, 2-1.