NU falls in historic Big Ten field hockey game

On national television for the first time in history, Northwestern fell to No. 6 Michigan State 4-0 in East Lansing. It was the Big Ten Network’s first field hockey broadcast and the sport’s first nationally televised game.

The defeat dropped the Wildcats to 3-5 (0-1 Big Ten), while the Spartans improved to 8-1 (1-0).

Neither team scored in the first half, but Michigan State came out of the gates quickly in the second with a pair of goals in five minutes. Junior back Geraldine Raynor opened the scoring in the 38th minute, and sophomore midfielder Floor Rijpma followed with her own goal just three minutes later. Senior forward Becky Manning and sophomore back Jeamie Deacon put the game out of reach with goals in the 56th and 63rd minute, respectively.

NU managed just two shots on goal after averaging 14.4 per game in its non-conference slate, the fourth most in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, the Spartans launched 22 shots, eight of them on goal. Junior goalkeeper Emily Kyle came into the game leading the Big Ten in saves with 6.7 per game and stopped four shots against the Spartans.

The loss is the Cats’ fourth in a row after a 3-1 start to the season.

Women’s soccer win streak ends with 1-0 loss

After going six games without a loss, the train that was the streaking Wildcats grinded to a halt Sunday against a stingy Wright State squad, falling 1-0.

Following 60 minutes of zeroes, the lone and deciding goal of the game came off the foot of freshman forward Amber Kasmer at the 60:51 mark. The defeat was the first home loss for Northwestern at the new Lakeside Field.

Despite the score, the Cats did not have any problems keeping offensive pressure on the Raider defense, outshooting them 17-7. Junior forward Jenny Dunn led the attack for NU booting six shots, two on goal. Dunn’s effort was assisted by two of her teammates, senior midfielder/defense Shannon Schneeman and senior forward Kelsey Hans, who combined for seven shots, three on goal.

As the tandem of Dunn, Schneeman, and Hans struggled to score the equalizer, the Raider’s freshman goalie Meghan Hackenson emerged as the team’s most valuable asset by deflecting all of NU’s second-half shots. Hackenson made several diving stops and finished the game with seven saves in 90 minutes of play.

The loss dropped the Cats to 5-2-2 while Wright State improved to 7-2-0.

– Staff Reports