Field Hockey Tournament: Semifinals Recap

Photo by Greg Fiume

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The Championship Game for the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament is set following semifinal action Friday at the Lacrosse and Field Hockey Complex. Michigan and Northwestern advanced and will meet on Sunday at 11 a.m. to play for the tournament title and an NCAA automatic berth.

Top-seed Northwestern downed No. 4 seed Rutgers, 2-0, in the first semifinal. NU (19-0) received a goal from Ashley Sessa just 56 seconds into the game, then added an empty netter on from Maddie Zimmer at the 58:59 mark. Rutgers (8-9) managed two shots on goal while Scarlet Knight goalkeeper Sophia Howard turned away fives shots.

In the second semifinal, No. 3 seed Michigan overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat No. 2 seed Maryland, 4-3, in a shootout. Michigan won the shootout, two strokes to zero.

The first half produced three goals. Maryland's Maci Bradford scored on a rebound 14 minutes in. Michigan's Pilar Oliveros tied the game with 2:40 left in the first half before the Terp's Ella Gaitan answered less than a minute later.

With their cage empty, Michigan forced overtime on Juliette Manzur's goal with four seconds left in regulation. Maryland's Hope Rose and Michigan's Lora Clarke also scored second-half goals.