NU Relentless in 5-0 Win at No. 15 Rutgers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The No. 1 Northwestern discipline hockey crew returned to shutout success on Friday afternoon, taking down No. 15 Rutgers, 5-0, on the highway. The Wildcats (12-1, 4-0 Big Ten) sought to assault the ranked convention matchup after struggling their first lack of the season, and did so relentlessly.

Junior ahead Ashley Sessa led NU to victory over the Scarlet Knights (8-6, 3-2 Big Ten) with a hat trick. It was a well-recognized scene, because the three-goal sport for Sessa was the second of her profession, the primary additionally towards Rutgers (Oct. 4, 2024). Senior again Maja Zivojnovic and graduate ahead Grace Schulze every additionally chipped in with a aim apiece.

NU’s offense had just one extra penalty nook than Rutgers, however with 17 pictures and 11 pictures on aim, it proved to be kryptonite for RU’s redshirt first-year goalkeeper Emily Nicholls. The Scarlet Knight (as of Oct. 16) leads the Big Ten with 77 saves and locations fourth nationally in save share. In NU’s cage, ‘Cats redshirt first-year goalkeeper Juliana Boon posted 4 saves, pushing Northwestern to notch its ninth shutout of the season.

The first quarter acquired off to a gradual begin, with solely three complete pictures, all from NU, taken by 14 minutes. The Wildcats took their first penalty nook of the sport at 14:31, which Sessa inserted. Olivia Bent-Cole took the stick cease and arrange Zivojnovic for the shot. Deflected in by Sessa, the ‘Cats had been first on the board.

Resuming play for the second interval, Rutgers got here again on the turf able to assault offensively, firing off 5 pictures in simply three minutes with two penalty corners. Boon protected the cage towards the Scarlet Knights, posting three saves to maintain them scoreless. In the twenty eighth minute, Bent-Cole acquired away with the ball on the opposite facet of the sphere, passing to Schulze. Finding the 3-on-2 likelihood, Schulze shot and located a approach round Rutgers’ Nicholls to double the NU lead. Her eighth aim of the season despatched the ‘Cats into the half with a 2-0 benefit.

Northwestern and Rutgers traded pictures to start out the second half, every saved, till an NU penalty nook within the forty third minute. Sessa inserted for Bent-Cole’s cease, which this time Zivojnovic took house. Her second aim of the season put the Wildcats up 3-0.

At 10 minutes remaining, Sessa took cost in Rutgers’ territory, taking a shot to ebook her tenth aim of the season. Up 4-0, NU took three extra penalty corners. The Scarlet Knights had two extra of their very own, however couldn’t discover the again of the cage.

With lower than one minute on the clock, Bent-Cole discovered a run, passing to Sessa for one more aim. The ‘Cats claimed the 5-0 win because the clock ran out.

NU’s fourth five-goal sport of the season, the Wildcats improved to 12-1, whereas remaining excellent in Big Ten play (4-0). The end result additionally marked 24-straight victories in Big Ten regular-season matchups.

Sessa confirmed out in Piscataway, with a hat-trick and an help. The junior now has 11 targets and 14 assists this season, the one ‘Cat with double digits in each. Bent-Cole tallied three assists within the win, setting a brand new profession excessive.

Up subsequent, NU stays on the East Coast to face ranked convention foe No. 10 Maryland. The Terrapins (8-5, 4-2 Big Ten) are coming off a 2-1 shootout loss to unranked Indiana. The Wildcats will tackle the Terps on Sunday, Oct. 19, at midday CT on B1G+.