It’s been 349 days since No. 1 Northwestern field hockey (18-0, 8-0 B1G) lost a game.

Last Friday afternoon, the ’Cats took down No. 4 Ohio State (13-4, 4-4 B1G) to capture their 18th straight win and clinch their first undefeated regular season in program history.

The ’Cats came into the game strong, controlling play and keeping the ball in Buckeye territory for much of the first quarter. Just over 10 minutes into the game, second-year forward Ashley Sessa scored Northwestern’s first goal off a fast-break up the field, assisted by second-year forward Piper Borz.

Although the ’Cats failed to capitalize on two penalty corners in the last five minutes of the first quarter, they staunchly defended their territory from Ohio State and headed into the second quarter leading 1-0.

Early in the second quarter, the Buckeyes hit back with a penalty stroke goal from graduate forward Makenna Webster. Webster’s shot to the top right corner of the net tied the game up. For the remainder of the quarter, the ’Cats clawed back with a vengeance, racking up eight shots, including five on goal. Northwestern’s efforts paid off in the 28th minute, when a shot from Sessa off a penalty corner found the back of the net, putting the ’Cats back in the lead.

After a dominant first half in which Northwestern held Ohio State to just two shots, the third quarter was more stressful for ’Cats fans. Midway through, a Buckeye shot found the back of Northwestern’s net, but a penalty on the play voided the goal, despite Ohio State’s challenge of the call.

Entering the final 15 minutes of play, the ’Cats held on 2-1, but tensions were high as Ohio State’s fourth-year goalkeeper Abby Danson continued to deny Northwestern a chance to widen its lead.

As the clock wound down, the score remained unchanged, a show of defensive strength on both sides. Danson made a career-high 11 saves throughout the game, and Northwestern kept Ohio State, which has averaged 14.4 shots per game this season, to just six.

Although this year’s field hockey team has already made history, its season is far from over. As regular season Big Ten champions, Northwestern will play in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament in Maryland on Nov. 8, before setting its sights on the NCAA Tournament in mid-November, where it’ll look to avenge defeats in the last two championship games.

If the past 18 games have proven anything, it’s that the ’Cats are up for the challenge.

Thumbnail photo by Meryl Li / North by Northwestern