Indiana field hockey fell to Northwestern, the No. 1 team in the country, in a thrilling 1-0 match Sunday. The Hoosiers fought hard, maintaining a competitive presence against the nation’s best.
The Wildcats came out looking good. Their passes were sharp, the defense was stout, and their offense moved fast but as the first quarter played on, Indiana proved to be a formidable opponent.
Indiana's stadium was packed with excited fans as the game kicked off. The Hoosiers quickly displayed their defensive strength by stifling an early threat from Northwestern. As they pushed up the field, senior back Yip van Wonderen took a shot but missed the target.
Building potential, Indiana held strong with Northwestern's fast paced attack, taking the game into the second quarter scoreless.
As the second quarter began, Indiana connected a series of precise passes pushing up the field and setting an aggressive tone on offense. A player fired another shot on goal, but the rally was met by a daunting Northwestern defense that shut down any scoring hopes.
The start of the game was mostly uneventful, but for the Hoosiers, this was a promising quiet, since keeping Northwestern scoreless was a significant accomplishment. The Wildcats had previously outscored their opponents five to none in the first quarter this season.
However, with five minutes remaining in the half, Northwestern struck first: grabbing a 1-0 lead. Junior midfielder Greta Hinke delivered a missile to the back wood for the first score of the game.
Northwestern dominated possession late in the half, giving Indiana a scare with three shots on goal. However, solid goaltending from freshman keeper Sadie Canelli kept the score at 1-0, leaving the Hoosiers with a sense of hope as they headed into halftime.
As the second half began, both teams battled for possession in the midfield. Northwestern's defense continued to challenge Indiana, making it difficult to find scoring opportunities.
Despite three more shots from the Hoosiers, none found the net. As the game entered the fourth quarter, Indiana led in shots on goal, 7-3.
With hope still alive, the Hoosiers pushed valiantly into the fourth quarter. Trailing on the scoreboard, Indiana's offense played aggressively, pressing forward at every opportunity.
Indiana found its opportunities in the final quarter. Freshmen forwards Iman Aicha Tabbai Marzocca and Mijntje Hagen both took shots, but their chances went wide.
As time wound down, a crucial penalty kick presented one of Indiana's last opportunities. Graduate student forward Jemima Cookson sent in the entry pass, and after a deflection, Sydney Keld settled into open space and delivered a shot.
However, Northwestern's keeper, graduate student Annabel Skubisz, made the save, keeping the lead at 1-0.
With the clock winding down, the Hoosiers struggled to mount one last push as Northwestern's strong attack kept the ball in Indiana's half, losing the match 1-0.
The narrow defeat to the No. 1 team in the nation displayed Indiana’s ability to play with any team in the country, something the Hoosiers will look to build on heading into the upcoming road trip.
The Hoosiers will continue the search for their first Big Ten victory on Friday, Sept. 27, when they take on Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania.
