The age-old saying of “defense wins championships” proved true Sunday, as Northwestern won the Big Ten Tournament Championship against Maryland to claim both the regular season and tournament titles.
It took 17 Northwestern and two Maryland corners before first-year Olivia Bent-Cole broke through to score in double overtime and clinch a 1-0 victory for the ‘Cats.
Northwestern outshot Maryland 22-8 and spent considerably more time in front of the goal than Maryland did, but the Terrapins’ defense held up until the very end. Maryland first-year goalie Alyssa Klebasko put on a clinic against the NU attack, recording nine saves and halting what is one of the most lethal penalty corner units in the nation.