PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 4 Rutgers field hockey dropped a heartbreaker to No. 1 Northwestern on Sunday, taking the team's first loss of the season following a 2-1 decision in a penalty shootout. The Scarlet Knights now stand at 15-1 overall and 6-1 in Big Ten play, while Northwestern won their 15^th straight game (15-1 overall, 7-0 in the Big Ten).

Rutgers led the game for nearly 40 minutes of regulation before the Wildcats tied the game in the fourth quarter. The teams then played even for the next 31 minutes, through the end of regulation and two overtime periods. RU went to a penalty shootout for the fourth time this season, and a wild back-and-forth shootout ultimately ended with Northwestern celebrating.

"I liked the way we competed and fought to the very end," head coach Meredith Civico said. "The result didn't go our way. The team is incredibly motivated to continue with what is still to come for us this season."

Paulina Niklaus had the lone field goal for RU in the contest. Goalkeeper Sophia Howard had nine saves, tying her season-high.

Rutgers got on the board first, scoring on their first corner and shot on goal of the game nine minutes into the contest. Paulina Niklaus' first attempt was blocked, but she followed it up and put it home to give the Scarlet Knights an early 1-0 lead. That lead was held through halftime, with RU outshooting the Wildcats, 6-4.

After three quarters, the score remained 1-0 RU. Northwestern started to regain momentum, as the Wildcats had a stretch with 11 shots to zero for RU in the second half and through the first overtime.

With 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Northwestern earned a corner. The shot from the top of the circle went in, tying the game.

The game went into overtime, the seventh time this season that RU played past regulation. Rutgers pushed for the game-winner in the second overtime, as RU had four shots and three corners in the final OT period but were unable to put the ball in the net.

The game then went into a penalty shootout to decide things, Rutgers' fourth penalty shootout of the season.

Rutgers initially took the upper hand in the shootout, making its first three attempts to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-five shootout. Northwestern then rallied back to even at 3-3, but RU had one shot remaining to seek the win. The Scarlet Knights' shot went into the goal, but following a review, was waived off by the officials, sending the game into an additional shooter. RU went first and was denied, and then Northwestern tallied on their shot to claim the victory.

Postgame Notes

• The game was RU's Letterwinners Day, with three dozen of the program's alumni attending a pregame brunch and then being part of the team's anthem walk-out.  
• Niklaus' goal was the first goal allowed by Northwestern since September 22, breaking a streak of six straight shutouts by the Wildcats.
• Sophia Howard matched her season-high with nine saves.
• The loss is Rutgers' first of the season, with the last loss coming in last season's Big Ten Tournament, a 2-1 overtime loss to Northwestern.
• Northwestern now leads the all-time series 10-5, with RU winning four of the past six meetings.
• Rutgers, at 6-1 in the Big Ten, currently stands in second place in the Big Ten standings, with Northwestern in first at 7-0. If Northwestern losses to Maryland on Thursday, Rutgers can still clinch a share of the Big Ten regular season title with a win over Iowa.

Up Next
Rutgers has one final regular season game. The Scarlet Knights will play at Iowa, who was ranked No. 5 in this week's NFHCA Coaches Poll.