Wolverines Down No. 5 Northwestern in Shootout in Big Ten Quarterfinals

Thursday, November 4

Piscataway, N.J.

11:00 AM

Michigan

(14-3, 5-3)

Northwestern

(14-5, 5-3)

MICH

Anna Spieker (Rich Graessle)

Wolverines Down No. 5 Northwestern in Shootout in Big Ten Quarterfinals

11/4/2021 2:59:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

By: Leah Howard

» No. 2 Michigan defeated No. 5 Northwestern, 3-2, in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on a goal from Nina Apoola and stop from Anna Spieker in the fifth shootout round.
» Katie Anderson and Sofia Southam scored for U-M in regulation, while Anderson also converted in the shootout.
» Spieker earned five saves, including three in the second overtime, and stopped four of five Wildcat attempts in the shootout.
» U-M advances to face No. 1 Iowa in the Big Ten semifinals at 2 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 5); it will be the second No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup between the programs this season.

Site: Piscataway, N.J. (Bauer Track and Field Hockey Complex)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Quarterfinals)
Score: #2 Michigan 3, #5 Northwestern 2 (SO)
Records: U-M (14-3), NU (14-5)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 5 -- vs. #1 Iowa - Big Ten Tournament semifinals (Piscataway, N.J.), 2 p.m.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team earned a dramatic 3-2 shootout win against No. 5 Northwestern in the Big Ten Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday (Nov. 4) at Rutgers' Bauer Track and Field Hockey Complex.

The Wolverines clinched the shootout victory with a goal and a stop in the fifth and final round. With the teams tied at a goal apiece, junior Nina Apoola scored to retake the lead for U-M, pulling right to turn the corner on sprawling Wildcat goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz before depositing the ball into the open cage. Senior goalkeeper Anna Spieker sealed it with her fourth stop of the shootout, laying out on the turf to get her blocker on Ana Medina Garcia's shot as the buzzer sounded.

With the victory, Michigan (14-3) advances to face top-ranked Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 5). It will be the second No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup between the teams this season. The Hawkeyes rallied to claim the regular-season meeting in a shootout.

Michigan never trailed in the contest. Senior Katie Anderson broke through with her first goal of the season at the 10:55 mark in the first quarter, entering the circle through traffic, avoiding a low-flying Northwestern stick and rocketing a shot to the far-left post. Junior Sarah Pyrtek earned the assist on the play.

The Wildcats evened the score on a fast break into the circle late in the first half, at 24:56, before Michigan came out with heavy pressure early in the second before retaking the lead on a gritty diving goal from its leading scorer, senior Sofia Southam, at 40:38. Freshman Abby Tamer pulled the ball out of a large scrum near the left post and fed it across the goalmouth; Southam laid out to knock a loose ball into the cage for her 19th of the season. Southam and Anderson were both Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection last season.

Northwestern again answered, earning a penalty corner on referral and converting it at 46:28 to tie the game and ultimately force overtime.

Michigan largely dominated the overtime periods but went 0-for-4 on corner opportunities, then withstood five minutes of shorthanded play after a Southam yellow card. Northwestern's best chance came on a point-blank touch in front and rebound late in the second overtime.

Michigan outshot the Wildcats 24-13 and outcornered them 12-4. Spieker earned five saves, while NU's Skubisz stopped 10 of 12 shots on goal.