The Northwestern field hockey team hit rock-bottom on Friday with a 5-0 loss to No. 6 Penn State but rebounded with a much-needed 2-0 victory over Southwest Missouri State on Sunday.
NU coach Marisa Didio has long proclaimed that the results from the month of October will define a team’s success.
“I’ve been pleased that our group knows October is a defining month,” Didio said. “Our spirit improved and we’re turning corners.”
The Wildcats (5-10, 1-3 Big Ten) wanted to turn a major corner on Friday against one of their biggest rivals, Penn State (13-2, 4-0), but all of the excitement and upset talk signified nothing at the end of the day.
After 20 minutes of even play, the Nittany Lions methodically destroyed the Cats in every facet of the game. The key play occurred when Penn State converted a penalty stroke to break the scoreless tie with 10 minutes left in the first half. Penn State scored twice more before halftime and never looked back.
In a dramatic tale of the tape, NU had zero penalty corners and zero shots against Penn State’s 12 penalty corners and 25 shots. Despite their experience playing top competition, the Cats acknowledged they lost their poise in the midst of a relentless Lions attack that forced Cats’ goalie Jessica Yates to make a season-high 14 saves.
“Penn State is an excellent team,” senior Colleen Hotz said. “We were more pressured and didn’t have as much composure. They were at our throats.”
The Cats regrouped for a stellar Saturday practice which impressed Didio as the team anxiously awaited a shot at redemption on Sunday.
“They were ready to work and practice on Saturday, ” Didio said. “They are willing to work and want to get better. They’ve been shell-shocked in the past few games but came out with a great attitude and had the energy and spirit to keep working.”
Against the Bears (8-8), the Cats looked like a different team in more ways than one.
NU controlled much of the match, had numerous effective passing sequences and the defense stopped many potential scoring opportunities before they ever materialized.
Led by the hard-charging Diane Provenchar and Kathryn Breed, the NU defense allowed only non-threatening shots and Yates obliged by posting the team’s second shutout of the year.
Didio moved and shifted players around at will as Wendy Roberts moved inside to center midfield, Jodie Condie played left midfield, Alexis Bettis started at right midfield and Nicole Smith ended up playing three different positions.
“The changes keep them fresh and they responded well,” Didio said. “They make my decisions look good.”
Both teams had few scoring opportunities and the teams went to halftime in a scoreless tie. But in a halftime speech, Didio urged the Cats to raise their level of play and grab the victory.
Early in the second half, the Cats made a quick succession of passes that allowed Colleen Hotz to find an open space and send the ball upfield to Smith. The junior dribbled around the defense and as she was falling down remarkably slipped a backhand shot into the goal.
The match was far from over, as the Bears went on the offensive and caused some problems around the Cats’ goal, but this time the Cats were composed enough to strike back.
With five minutes remaining, Smith blasted a penalty corner towards the net. Roberts picked up the rebound and found Lindsey Millard for the final goal of the match.
The Cats’ schedule, laden with nationally ranked opponents, has helped the team grow despite the losses.
NU’s five-match losing streak included overtime and blowout losses and had the team cherishing minor victories.
With Didio, in her first year of rebuilding the program, coaching a young team, a win is a win and will always be welcomed.
“Winning is something for this team to treasure,” Breed said.
