EVANSTON, Ill. – The Miami University field hockey team fell to No. 9 Northwestern by a 4-2 margin on Friday. The RedHawks drop to 3-3 on the season while the Wildcats improve to 4-2.

Miami earned a penalty corner just one minute into the game but the shot from Mariona Heras was saved.

After this first shot, Northwestern got the next five shots, breaking the scoreless tie in the 21^st minute of play with a goal off a penalty stroke.

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Four minutes into the second half, Northwestern increased its lead to 2-0 with a goal off of a penalty corner.

A little over a minute later, the Wildcats stole the ball in front of the RedHawks' goal and put another one in to make it a 3-0 game.

After this goal, Miami took the ball down the field and earned a penalty corner. The resulting shot was turned aside by the Northwestern goalkeeper.

In the 45^th minute of play, Paula Portugal got Miami on the scoreboard with her fifth goal of the season. Portugal dribbled the ball into the circle and shot it into the upper 90.

Maddie Passarella made a couple of key stops after the RedHawks' goal to keep the game at 3-1 before letting one by in the 55^th minute on a close range pass across the net.

Miami earned two penalty corners with less than three minutes remaining in the game. Lexie Nugent tapped in her third goal of the season off a pass from Portugal, who picked up her second assist of the season.

Passarella made six saves today. Miami earned four penalty corners. Portugal and Heras led the RedHawks with two shots apiece.

Miami plays No. 24 Boston University on Saturday at noon ET on Northwestern's field.