Michigan Wins Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament Championship

Photo by Greg Fiume

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Michigan concluded a dramatic run through the 2024 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament with a 1-0 victory over Northwestern in the championship game Sunday at the Maryland Lacrosse and Field Hockey Complex. It marked the ninth Big Ten title in school history.

The third-seeded Wolverines (15-4) receive the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, which begins next week. The Big Ten will find out how many additional teams receive at-large berths when the tournament bracket is revealed tonight at 9 p.m. CT on the Selection Show, streaming on NCAA.com.

Just two days ago, Michigan was four seconds away from being eliminated in the semifinals. Marcia Pankratz’s squad rallied from two goals down and netted a last-second shot to force overtime against fifth-ranked Maryland, then won a shootout to advance to today’s championship game. Michigan also went to overtime in a quarterfinals win over Indiana.

Top-ranked Northwestern (19-1), which captured the Big Ten regular season championship, suffered its first loss of the season and its first setback against a Big Ten opponent in 21 matches dating to the 2022 Big Ten Tournament Final, also won by Michigan. Ashley Sessa and Maddie Zimmer were named to the all-tournament team for the No. 1 seeded Wildcats.

Following a scoreless first half, Michigan’s Alana Richardson provided the lone goal off a feed from Abby Tamer at the 32:45 mark. Defensively, the Wolverines were led by freshman goaltender Hala Silverstein, who turned away a penalty stroke in the first period and finished with four saves. Michigan graduate midfielder Lora Clarke was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

All-Tournament Team
Jemima Cookson, Gr., F, Indiana
Mia Magnotta, Jr., GK, Iowa
Emma Deberdine, Gr., M, Maryland
Alyssa Klebasko, So, GK, Maryland
Erin Reilly, Gr., M, Michigan
Lora Clarke, Gr., M, Michigan
Ashley Sessa, So., F, Northwestern
Maddie Zimmer, Sr., M, Northwestern
Katie Fichtner, Jr., B, Ohio State
Paulina Niklaus, Sr., B, Rutgers
Puck Winter, Jr., B, Rutgers

Most Outstanding Player
Lora Clarke, Gr., M, Michigan