Buckeyes Drop Hard-Fought OT Decision to Northwestern

Sunday, October 16

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

(8-6, 2-4)

Northwestern

(12-3, 3-3)

Northwestern

Ohio State

Buckeyes Drop Hard-Fought OT Decision to Northwestern

10/16/2022 2:54:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

2022 Schedule & Results // 2022 Roster // Final Stats // Season Stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State field hockey team nearly pulled off its second top-five ranked upset of the weekend, but No. 3 Northwestern scored early in overtime to earn a 2-1 victory on Sunday at Buckeye Varsity Field. The Buckeyes are 8-6 on the season and 2-4 in Big Ten play while Northwestern is 12-3 overall, 3-3 in conference play.

The Short Story
All of the scoring on Sunday occurred in the fourth quarter and overtime, as NU took a 1-0 lead early in the fourth before Ohio State countered with a Megan McKenna goal to tie the score at 1-1 with just under eight minutes remaining.

In overtime, Northwestern's Ana Medina Garcia scored the golden goal 3:45 into the extra session.

In cage, NU's Annabel Skubisz stopped 10 shots while her counterpart, Abby Danson, made five saves. The Buckeyes outshot the Wildcats 19-15 and had an 11-10 edge in penalty corners.

How It Happened

Neither team could find the scoreboard in the first three quarters, although the Buckeyes had a good opportunity in the second quarter when Sarah Charley was awarded a penalty stroke. Her shot, however, was saved by Skuzisz.
Two minutes into the fourth quarter, Bente Baekers put the Wildcats up 1-0 with her 20^th goal of the season on a penalty corner. Baekers shot was deflected while heading towards the cage and took a fortuitous bounce over the shoulder of goalkeeper Abby Danson.
Unfazed, the Buckeyes kept pressing and finally broke through on Skubisz in the 53^rd
The scoring chance started when Claudia Thomas gained possession near midfield and sent a pass up field to McKenna, who controlled the ball and shot it inside the circle to the upper right corner of the cage.
It was the second goal of the season for the junior from Lenape, N.J. She also scored last Sunday vs. Ohio.
Garcia worked around a defender on the left side of the field in overtime and the game-winning goal into the far corner. It came less than four minutes into the first OT period.

Statistically Speaking
Shots: Ohio State 19, Northwestern 15
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 12, Northwestern 7
Penalty Corners: Ohio State 11, Northwestern 10
Saves: Northwestern (Skubisz) 11, Ohio State (Danson) 5
Scoring Summary: NW – 46:50 4th Baekers (Blass); OSU – 52:11 4th McKenna (Thomas); NW 63:45 OT Garcia (unassisted)

Buckeye This and That

Four of the last five games between Ohio State and Northwestern have been decided by one goal.
Emma Goldean played in her 85th career game, tying the program record that is held by Jenn Sciulli, who also played in 85 games between 2008-11.
Sunday's game was Ohio State final conference regular season contest at home.
It also served as the Buckeyes' annual Buckeye Inclusion/Pride game.
Ohio State is (with a win) 6-2 (5-3 with a loss) at home this season.
The Buckeyes have one remaining home game during the regular season, on Oct. 30 vs. Ball State.
Buckeye Varsity Field, however, will see more Big Ten field hockey in November as the site of the Big Ten Conference Tournament Nov. 3-6.
Sunday's game was a match-up of strength vs. strength. Northwestern brought the nation's No. 8 scoring average into the game (3.10 goals per game) while Ohio State has the nation's No. 7-ranked scoring defense (1.08 goals allowed per game).

What's Next
Ohio State has two road games next weekend, Oct. 21-23, as it takes on Indiana on Friday, Oct. 21 in Bloomington at 3 p.m. On Sunday, the Buckeyes tangle with Bellarmine in a non-conference game in Louisville, Ky.