You’re probably confused as to why the cover picture of this week’s edition of the notebook is a picture of the Big Ten regular season trophy.
That’s because for the first time in four years, a team other than Northwestern has its hands on that trophy. And although Maryland only has half of a conference title to celebrate, it has helped raise questions about the Wildcats’ dynasty, though the Terps didn’t even beat them.
In 2022, Northwestern had three losses in conference play and finished third. It
still won the Big Ten Tournament.
For 1,483 days, the ‘Cats were unbeatable in Big Ten regular season play. 31 straight wins.
Then, they went to Happy Valley, and things got wacky. Against a 14th-ranked Penn State squad seeking to solidify its spot in the NCAA Tournament, Northwestern’s offense went cold, its defense was unstable and its wheels never got off the tarmac.
The Nittany Lions played recklessly. The Wildcats played protective. Sports reward those who take risks, and on Friday, PSU was given its payday.
So, those questions being asked are as such: is Northwestern as capable as it was last year? How much parity is there in the Big Ten? And, most importantly, in a world with a surging North Carolina, a renewed Iowa, a fiery UConn and a sneaky good Syracuse, can NU find its way back to the top of the mountain for the third straight year?
To be honest, these questions are harder to answer now than ever.
Starting Too Slow
Through the first 25 minutes on Friday, Northwestern rattled off one shot: a weak chip from Ashley Sessa as she was smothered by the Nittany Lions defense. Penn State’s game plan was as such: keep the ball along the sideline. Anything towards the middle of the field was pounced on. A style of defense I’ll coin “the cone”, because it was as if NU was forced to navigate a big traffic cone placed on the 25-yard line.
The ‘Cats’ “opportunities”, if you can even call them that, seemed extremely forced and unnatural, as they were settling for shots they don’t usually take. Laura Salamanca’s backhand chip from the edge of the circle (and with a defender in her face) was an easy deflection for Aby Deverka in cage, as was Bree Moffett’s steep-angled shot from the right of the goal. For much of this contest, Northwestern’s shots were rushed and felt out of rhythm.
Especially on this penalty corner, where NU is extremely out of sorts. Salamanca can’t get the angle she wants off the stick stop and can’t create the shot she wants, while Aerin Krys — one of the Wildcats’ best passers — misses multiple options around the cage on the rebound, choosing to take the shot herself.
The ‘Cats don’t make these mistakes when they are playing at their best. They’re made by a Northwestern team playing on its back foot. That’s what happened on Friday.
Back Line Anarchy
Northwestern’s issues stem from penalty corner closeouts this past Friday. Both scores came from open shooters with a world of time and space to work with. Cooper Cutchins’ deflected shot score was a “gimme” in a one-on-one situation with Juliana Boon.
NU played two defenders on either side of the cage to defend both posts, and it got bit in the third quarter.
On the penalty corner that sealed the win for PSU, Northwestern essentially guessed wrong. In panic mode, with no goalkeeper in the final five minutes of the contest, the Wildcats’ flyers sold out towards the stick stop straight ahead of them. They guessed wrong, as the ball ended up with Lilly Holmes on the left side of the circle. By the time Jess Freedman recognized the play and tried to adjust, the shot was already headed for the board.
Two preventable goals allowed by Northwestern — two goals that dropped it from No. 1 to No. 2 in the coaches’ poll.
Which brings us to…
Up Next: The Big Ten Tournament
Coming off yet another shocking loss, NU needs to saddle up again and prep itself to win the Big Ten Tournament. Again.
Or else it’ll find itself in the same position it was a year ago: traveling for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
This season has suggested Northwestern’s inconsistency as a national powerhouse. Not calling it into question, but raising some concerns about how sustainable its high level of dominance can be. 4th-seeded Rutgers poses a potential threat to the Wildcats’ tournament run, having struck first at Lakeside Field in this season’s regular-season meeting. On the other side of the bracket, No. 2-seed Maryland, 3-seed Penn State and 6-seed Iowa are all genuine contenders for a spot in the Big Ten Tournament final opposite NU if it makes it past Friday.
A vast collection of fiery squads will congregate in Columbus in what may be one of the most chaotic Big Ten Tournaments we’ve seen in a while. If Northwestern comes out on top, it may silence the noise doubting its potential to repeat as national champions for the third straight year.
