If the NIU field hockey team had its say, the game would only last 60 minutes, rather than the regulation 70.

The Huskies settled for a tie and suffered a defeat over the weekend at Huskie Stadium due to crucial mistakes during the last 10 minutes of each game.

NIU and 10th-ranked Northwestern University dueled to a 2-2 tie Friday and then the Huskies fell to No. 16 University of Michigan 3-1 Sunday.

Junior Katie Thomas scored two of her three goals in a span of 2:17 late in the game to break a 1-1 halftime tie to lead Michigan to the victory. Freshman Danielle Derr had tied the game at one for NIU with 7:21 remaining in the first half.

Derr and junior Tina Hahn sparked the Huskies in the first half with goals to put NIU up 2-0 at the break against Northwestern. But two goals within a span of 2:45 by Kathleen Sullivan and Colleen Senich late in regulation earned Northwestern the tie.

NIU (1-5-1) travels to Iowa on Saturday to face the fifth-ranked Hawkeyes.