ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A thrilling come from behind 3-2 win which ended in a shootout lifted the 17th-ranked Cardinal field hockey team over No. 10 Northwestern Saturday afternoon at Ocker Field at the University of Michigan.
The 'Cats (12-7) wasted no time on attack in the first half as they struck in the third minute of play with a goal off a penalty corner that Dominique Masters swept in to jump out to a quick 1-0 lead. Defense was the highlight on both teams in the half as NU only allowed two shots to Stanford while the Cardinal allowed one to head into the break down 1-0.
The Cardinal (10-5) offense came alive in the second half, screaming out of the gates with five shots in the first 11 minutes of play. Emma Christus played the equalizer as she punched in a rebound off of a corner to make it 1-1 in the 47th minute. The 'Cats stepped up again in the 54th minute though to take the lead 2-1 off an Elena Curley goal.
The Cardinal kept the pressure up which paid off as Stanford was awarded a penalty stroke that it put in the hands of the ever-reliable Fran Tew who didn't disappoint as she knotted the score 2-2 to send it into overtime.
"Today was a great come from behind win against a very good Northwestern team," stated head coach Tara Danielson, "I am extremely proud of this Stanford team for their commitment to work for each other to get the result."
Overtime was essentially owned by the Cardinal as it put up seven shots to force NU to make two saves while the Stanford defense blanked the 'Cats offense without allowing a shot in both OTs. The Cardinal was unable to put one away though, sending it to a penalty stroke-off.
With Kelsey Bing between the posts for the Cardinal the stroke-off was over before it began as the rookie shutout the 'Cats in the shootout. Millie Stefanowicz and Fran Tew played the clinchers in the finish giving the Cardinal a 2-0 lead in the stoke-off to finish the 3-2 win.
Stanford returns to action Sunday as it sets to take on the Michigan State Spartans. Game time is set for 11 a.m. PT in East Lansing, Mich.