Michigan Uses Fourth-Quarter Surge to Down No. 4 Northwestern

Saturday, March 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

3:00 PM

Michigan

(3-1, 3-0Big Ten)

Northwestern

(5-2, 3-2Big Ten)

Northwestern

Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Michigan Uses Fourth-Quarter Surge to Down No. 4 Northwestern

3/20/2021 6:36:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Leah Howard

» Michigan scored twice in the fourth quarter to defeat No. 4 Northwestern, 3-2, at Ocker Field.
» Sarah Pyrtek and Kathryn Peterson scored just three minutes apart in the fourth to give U-M its first lead of the contest; Katie Anderson netted the equalizer in the first quarter.
» Goalkeeper Anna Spieker earned six saves as U-M withstood a late Wildcat flurry over the final six minutes.

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Phyllis Ocker Field)
Score: #11 Michigan 3, #4 Northwestern 2
Records: U-M (3-1, 3-0 B1G), NU (5-2, 3-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Monday, March 22 -- vs. #4 Northwestern (Phyllis Ocker Field), 3 p.m.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 11-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team used a late surge, scoring twice in the fourth quarter, and withstood a frenzied finish to knock off No. 4 Northwestern, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon (March 20) at Phyllis Ocker Field.

The Wolverines scored twice in a three-minute stretch early in the fourth quarter, taking its first lead of the game off a corner rebound at the 49:40 mark before adding a much-needed insurance tally at 52:41. Sophomore Sarah Pyrtek scored the former after a blocked corner shot, chipping the ball over the sprawled Wildcat goalkeeper for her second goal of the season.

Junior Kathryn Peterson netted what proved to be the game-winning goal just three minutes later, carrying the ball into the Northwestern circle from midfield and firing a hard shot on goal, which deflected in off a Wildcat defender. It was Peterson's first of the season and the second game-winner of her career.

Northwestern (5-2, 3-2 Big Ten) responded with an onslaught over the last six minutes of the game, scoring on a penalty-corner direct shot at 54:02 to cut U-M's lead to one before pulling goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz for an extra attacker. The Wildcats drew two more penalty corners and posted four shots, including one on goal, over the final four minutes, but Michigan held.

The Wildcats scored the game's first goal off a penalty-corner rebound just 58 seconds into the first quarter, but Michigan (3-1, 3-0 Big Ten) responded in kind, netting a corner rebound of its own just three minutes later, at 3:51. Junior Katie Anderson corralled the ball after the direct shot was blocked and buried it in the lower-left corner of the cage. It was her second of the season.

Northwestern outshot the Wolverines, 16-8, and outcornered them, 7-4, in the contest. Junior goalkeeper Anna Spieker earned six saves, including back-to-back stops off an NU fast break one-on-one in the first quarter. Wildcat goalkeeper Skubisz stopped one of four U-M shots on goal.

The Wolverines will wrap their two-game set against Northwestern with a non-conference slate at 3 p.m. on Monday (March 22) at Ocker Field. The game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus.