Buckeyes Drop a 2-1 Decision to Top-Ranked Northwestern

Friday, November 1

Evanston, Ill.

4:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM CT

Ohio State

(13-4 (4-4))

Northwestern

(18-0 (8-0))

Ohio State

Northwestern

Buckeyes Drop a 2-1 Decision to Top-Ranked Northwestern

11/1/2024 6:32:00 PM | General, Field Hockey

Box Score

Ohio State is back home on Sunday for senior day against Central Michigan

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In the penultimate game of the regular season, the Ohio State field hockey team fell to No. 1 Northwestern by a 2-1 mark on Friday in Evanston. With today's loss, Ohio State finishes Big Ten play at 4-4.

How it Happened
Northwestern opened up scoring early in the first quarter, driving down the pitch to take a 1-0 lead in the 10^th minute. The Buckeyes found the equalizer in the second quarter, scoring on a penalty stroke at the 16:31-minute mark. With three minutes left in the half, Northwestern scored again on a penalty corner to take the score to 2-1 heading into halftime. Northwestern out-shot the Buckeyes 12-2 and added six corners in the first half.
The third quarter went scoreless, with both teams notching two corners apiece and combining for five shots. The Wildcat defense held steady through the fourth quarter—only allowing two Ohio State shots—to leave the score at 2-1.

How The Goals Were Scored

Northwestern's Ashley Sessa found the open goal in the 10^th minute of the game after a drive down the field. She was assisted by Piper Borz.
Forward Makenna Webster scored her 99^th career point as a Buckeye on a penalty stroke goal 1:31 into the second quarter. Webster owns five penalty stroke goals in her career.
Sessa scored again in the 27^th minute on a Wildcat penalty corner with assists from Greta Hinke and Lauren Hunter. The forward now has 20 goals on the season.

Buckeye This and That

Today marks Ohio State's second-straight loss after a 3-0 bout against Iowa on Sunday. The Buckeyes haven't dropped two games in a row since October 2023.
Three of Ohio State's four losses have come against NFHCA-ranked teams: then-No. 6 Michigan, the No. 16 Hawkeyes and today against the No 1. Wildcats. Ohio State holds six wins against top-20 teams this season.
The Wildcats' goal in the 27^th minute is only the second the Buckeyes have allowed in the second quarter of a game all year. Ohio State holds a 10-2 advantage in second quarters all season.
Veteran keeper Abby Danson notched a career-high 11 saves in today's game, bringing her career total to 284. The Clifton Park, New York native ranks eighth in Ohio State history in career saves.
Northwestern's 20 shots are the most the Buckeye defense has allowed all season. Ohio State still holds a 245-158 advantage in shots this season.

Statistically Speaking
Shots: Ohio State 6, Northwestern 20
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 4, Northwestern 13
Penalty Corners: Ohio State 5, Northwestern 12
Saves: Ohio State 11, Northwestern 3
Scoring Summary: NW Q1 10:16 Ashley Sessa (Piper Borz); OSU Q2 16:31 Makenna Webster (penalty stroke); NW Q2 27:42 Ashley Sessa (Greta Hinke/Lauren Hunter)

What's On Tap
The Buckeyes will finish regular season play on Sunday, when they host Central Michigan at 1 p.m. on senior day. More information on live stats and streaming can be found on the schedule page of OhioStateBuckeyes.com.

#GoBucks