Recap courtesy of Miami Athletic Communications
Northwestern 3, Miami 2
Box Score
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The deepest NCAA run in Miami field hockey history came to a close Sunday after Miami fell to Northwestern 3-2 in the Elite Eight during the final minutes of play. The game was highlighted by goals from Miami back Kylie Coughlin, who scored her second goal of the year and made numerous defensive stops, and midfielder Malena Sabez, who finishes the season in the top five in the nation in goals per game (25 goals in 21 games). The RedHawks finish the season at 16-5, with their only losses coming against the nation's top-ranked teams, and Northwestern advances to the Final Four with a 20-1 record.
Northwestern found themselves on the board first midway through the first period after firing the ball into the bottom right corner of the net on a penalty corner to make it 1-0.
The RedHawks responded quickly with a penalty corner of their own, but were unable to score.
Minutes later, Miami received another penalty corner. Coughlin inserted and Mata fired off a shot that Coughlin deflected into the goal while sprawled on the ground, evening up the game at one goal apiece.
Northwestern capitalized on a last-minute penalty corner in the first period, scoring on a second effort after strong initial defense from Miami to reclaim a 2-1 lead.
Miami charged downfield to start the second and earned a penalty stroke. Sabez successfully deceived the goalkeeper, shooting a rocket to the left to tie the game at 2-2.
Nicky Sjouken made a kicking save against a laser shot midway through the second to keep the game tied. The RedHawks generated a corner minutes later but their shot went wide.
Miami stopped a Northwestern corner attempt with one minute to play in the half to finish the first 30 minutes tied at 2-2.
After a defensive stalemate that included two strong saves by Sjouken, Northwestern put together a string of two penalty corners near the end of the third period. The Wildcats took three shots that resulted in two saves by Sjouken and a block from the RedHawk defensive unit to bring the game into the fourth period.
Lucia Ventos and Sjouken each blocked a shot to fend off a Wildcat penalty corner, the first of the fourth period. Jülia Fernandez and Coughlin made a steal minutes later to prevent a wide-open shot for the Wildcats.
Down a player due to a card, Miami faced a Northwestern corner with less than two minutes to play after a stick violation in the circle. Sjouken and Coughlin dove to make a stop but the ball just barely passed the goal line to score and make it 3-2.
The RedHawks made a push into the circle with 45 seconds to play, but Northwestern took the ball away and time expired, ending the longest postseason run in Miami history.
Miami was outshot by Northwestern by a tally of 18 (10 on goal) to seven (three on goal).
The RedHawks had three penalty corners and the Wildcats had seven.
Sjouken made seven saves, capping off a postseason run of 22 saves in four games.
Coughlin went 1-for-1. Sabez went 1-for-1. Judit Garcia Gregori took two total shots.
The RedHawks finish the season leading the nation in goals per game and assists per game and third in the nation in penalty corners per game.
Miami's trip to the Elite Eight marked the first in school history, and their 2-1 win over Virginia marked the only time in this year's NCAA Tournament that one of the host schools fell in the first round.
