Northwestern Field Hockey Stuns UNC with Overtime Victory in NCAA Semifinal
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Northwestern Wildcats completed a dramatic comeback, defeating the top-seeded University of North Carolina Tar Heels 4-3 in overtime of the NCAA Field Hockey Semifinal on Friday. Northwestern, trailing for much of the contest, rallied to tie the game late in the fourth quarter before Ashley Sessa’s goal with 37 seconds remaining in the extra period secured the victory.
The win sends Northwestern to the NCAA Championship game, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal matchup. This marks a significant achievement for the Wildcats program, continuing their impressive postseason run and offering a chance to claim their first national title.For UNC, the loss ends their season short of championship aspirations.
North Carolina dominated the first half, outshooting Northwestern 6-3 and building a 2-0 lead with goals from Ryleigh Heck (4:15) assisted by Dani Mendez, and Kara Heck (8:42) assisted by Isabel Boere. Northwestern responded late in the second quarter with a goal from Maja Zivojnovic (27:45), assisted by Olivia Bent-cole and Sessa, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The Tar Heels extended their lead early in the third quarter as Boere scored off a Charly Bruder assist at the 35:07 mark on a penalty corner play, making it 3-1. However, Northwestern continued to fight back, with Bent-Cole scoring off a Maddie Zimmer assist (42:57) to bring the score to 3-2 at the end of the third period.
With time dwindling in the fourth quarter, Northwestern pulled their goalkeeper, Juliana Boon, and successfully tied the game at 3-3 with a penalty corner goal by Ilse Tromp (58:50) assisted by zimmer. In overtime, Grace Schulze’s assist set up Sessa for the game-winning goal (69:23), clinching the 4-3 victory for the Wildcats.
Bent-Cole and Sessa each recorded a goal and an assist for Northwestern, while Zimmer tallied two assists. Boere led UNC with a goal and an assist.
