Ashley Sessa gave Michigan State quite the fright this Halloween.
The junior forward scored four of No. 2 Northwestern’s goals in its 5-0 defeat of the Spartans (5-13, 1-7 Big Ten) Friday. On the defensive end, the Wildcats (16-1, 8-0 Big Ten) didn’t allow a shot attempt until the fourth quarter. This was NU’s 14th consecutive win over Michigan State.
The ’Cats drew a penalty corner in the first minute of the contest but were unable to convert on the ensuing shot attempt. The rest of the first quarter passed quietly, with NU attempting just two more shots and not scoring on each.
The score sat at 0-0 through the first six minutes of the second quarter, but the ’Cats were on the prowl. After a save by the Michigan State goalkeeper, junior forward Aerin Krys chipped the ball up toward the goal but it bounced off the post. Sessa rebounded the ball and her shot was successful, giving NU a 1-0 lead.
Later in the second quarter, the ’Cats looked to extend their lead when Sessa took a penalty corner. She passed the ball to senior defender Maja Zivojnovic, who sent the ball back Sessa’s way, and she deflected the ball into the goal.
NU stood strong on defense for the whole half, allowing zero shot attempts through two quarters, and the ’Cats maintained their 2-0 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, NU wasn’t done yet, and sophomore midfielder Kate Janssen scored after the ball ricocheted off a Michigan State defender. The ’Cats outshot the Spartans 4-0 during the remainder of the quarter but were unable to add to their lead.
NU led 3-0 at the start of the fourth quarter, and Sessa was looking for her hat trick. She received a pass from sophomore midfielder Laura Salamanca and slapped a shot into the corner of the goal. This marked Sessa’s second game this season with at least three goals.
With 13 minutes remaining and the ’Cats now leading 4-0, Michigan State attempted its first shot of the game. With the contest all but over, the ’Cats earned a penalty shot, and Sessa knocked it in for her fourth goal of the game.
The contest came to a close and NU claimed a 5-0 victory. The ’Cats finished the regular season with five consecutive wins, bouncing back from their only loss, which came against then-No. 8 Princeton.
Freshman goalkeeper Juliana Boon notched one save and allowed zero goals, marking her ninth shutout of the season. Sessa’s four goals are her single-game career high. Janssen’s goal was her first of the season.
NU clinched the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament, which is hosted by Indiana and begins Thursday. The ’Cats will face the winner of fourth-seeded Michigan and fifth-seeded Rutgers Friday at 1 p.m.
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