Here are a couple of stats from Friday’s contests between Northwestern and Saint Joseph’s:
Saint Joseph’s recorded five shots across all four quarters. Northwestern had more than four times that amount, finishing with 22 and recording at least five shots in three of the four quarters. In its first-round win against Vermont, the Hawks earned six penalty corners, converted on one and gave up only three. On Friday, the ’Cats were the ones to hold SJU to three total corners while racking up 11 of their
own, turning them into two goals. Northwestern’s 22 shots are the most that the Hawks have allowed all season. Goalkeeper Avianna Wagner was forced into nine saves, two short of her season high.
The Wildcats came out and absolutely dominated the Hawks throughout the entire match. Once upon a time, these two teams competed for National Championships. But those days are over. Northwestern was expected to win this one by a wide margin; they went out and did just that.
The worst thing you can do as a favorite is play down to your opponent, give them chances to establish a foothold and stick around longer than they should. NU didn’t let that happen, going up 2-0 inside six minutes. Tracy Fuchs has been to the NCAA Tournament countless times now; she knows the importance of getting out to a strong start and made sure to emphasize it to the players before game time
“We came out very strong, and that’s something we were talking about doing this whole season. Putting a goal in the first five minutes of the game is something we’re focused on doing, Ashley Sessa said in the post-game presser. “We played like a team, especially in that first quarter, in the first five minutes.”
But the intensity didn’t stop the moment that you’re ahead on the scoreboard. Despite frigid temperatures and intense wind chill, Northwestern continued flying on defense. The same high-intensity press was on full display. A large part of that was thanks to the midfield. The box score doesn’t track turnovers forced, and it can’t accurately measure the feeling created when the opposition is under pressure every move it tries to make. But the eye test captured both those things, and NU’s midfield passed the eye test with flying colors; on both sides of the ball. Fuchs came into the game talking about how much her midfield had grown throughout the season, and she praised the unit once more post-game.
“I think Raquel [Hofemiester], Eva [Nemeth], Jess [Freedman] and Ella [Kokinis] all have different super-strengths, which is really good and they’re rotating in,” Fuchs said. And then obviously Lau [Salamanca] really controls everything we do. I thought in the beginning she was really going forward, breaking seams, which helped us generate a lot of attack… but they’ve all been great.”
And of course, this defense hasn’t conceded a single goal since postseason competition started. Juliana Boon has been constantly called upon to make big saves during the Big Ten Tournament, setting a new career high against the Hoosiers and producing a six-save first half against Maryland. Her game has reached new heights in her second year starting.
“I mean, every game you play is more experience you’re getting for the next one,” Boon said. “I definitely think moving on from your first year to your second year is a really big difference here.”
But this time, around the defense made Boon’s life much easier.
“ I think my defense has set me up [to be consistent]. Even games like today, I have to sustain minimal pressure, and when I do, they help me get the best angle shots, and that’s been pretty much the theme of the season.”
Fuch’s squad has reached a point that every competitive sports team desires to reach: they’re firing on all cylinders. Everyone knows their role, and the players are executing at an elite level. They’re bringing the strongest version of themselves to each and every contest. Some great teams fall victim to beating themselves; this Wildcat team is not one of them.
The Wildcats are peaking at the right time, and they’re getting the job done.
And they’ll be the first ones to remind you that the job isn’t finished.
“You don’t want your team to look too far ahead… the prize is getting to the Final Four. I thought, like we’ve done all year, we’ve been steady,” Fuchs said. “We haven’t been perfect by any means, but we’ve come out and done the things we talk about every day.”
Juliana Boon said this to close out the presser:
“Seeding in a tournament doesn’t mean anything. Each game is do or die, and that’s how we go into them.”
After watching the ’Cats performance on Friday, I believe her wholeheartedly.
