Northwestern
(19-1)
#9 Michigan
(15-4)
Wildcats fall short to Michigan in Big Ten Tournament Championship
11/10/2024 12:07:00 PM | Field Hockey
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The No. 1 Wildcats' quest for their second straight Big Ten Tournament championship fell just short on Sunday against No. 9 Michigan.
A third quarter goal from the Wolverines' Alana Richardson was the difference in Northwestern's 1-0 loss. The defeat was the Wildcats first against a Big Ten opponent since falling to Michigan in the 2022 Big Ten Tournament championship.
Northwestern outshot Michigan 16-8, but the Wolverines fired more shots on net, 5-4. Michigan also held the Wildcats, who average over nine penalty corners per game, to just six on Sunday.
Still, Northwestern's national championship aspirations remain. The NCAA Tournament selection show will be broadcast live on NCAA.com at 9 p.m. CT on Sunday. If the Wildcats host the first two rounds in Evanston, they will receive a bye into the tournament's first round and play on Friday.
Y'all showed out, Wildcat Nation ?? pic.twitter.com/V7cJzcLXBz
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 10, 2024
Northwestern will look to make its fourth straight NCAA Tournament championship game appearance, after winning the title in 2021 over Liberty and falling just short to North Carolina in 2022 and 2023.
The Wildcats enter the NCAA Tournament at 19-1, having outscored opponents 68-11, including 17 games holding opponents to one goal or fewer. They will be led by Big Ten Player of the Year Maddie Zimmer, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Ashley Sessa and Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Annabel Skubisz.
Tracey Fuchs, the Big Ten Coach of the Year, will look to lead the Wildcats to her second national championship title.
Team Stats
Richardson, Alana (5)
Assisted By: Tamer, Abby
GOAL by MICH Richardson, Alana (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Tamer, Abby, goal number 5 for season.
32:45
