Northwestern Falls to North Carolina, 2-1, in NCAA Championship Game

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – One of the greatest field hockey seasons in Big Ten history came to an end Sunday as second seed Northwestern lost to top seed North Carolina, 2-1, in the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship Game. The title match was scoreless for two overtime periods and tied 2-2 after the first penalty shootout before UNC prevailed in the second shootout.

North Carolina (18-3) opened a 1-0 halftime lead before Northwestern pulled even on Peyton Halsey’s successful penalty stroke at 43:41. NU goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz kept the Wildcats alive by turning away a penalty stroke in the first overtime. She finished with four saves as UNC held a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal.

“The game was back and forth, so exciting and good for our sport,” said NU Head Coach Tracey Fuchs. “I couldn’t have asked for a better team or a better season. Both teams played their hearts out, that’s all you can ask for at this stage.”

Northwestern finished the season with a 21-2 record, fashioning a 21-game winning streak from Sept. 1-Nov. 17. The Wildcats also captured the Big Ten Double, clinching the regular season championship with a perfect conference record along with the Big Ten Tournament title.

Olivia Bent-Cole, Peyton Halsey and Lauren Wadas were named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. Amelia Albers also received the NCAA Elite 90 Award, presented to the student-athlete with the top overall grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 90 championships.