Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
2025 Field Hockey Season Preview
8/26/2025 2:54:00 PM | Field Hockey
2025 Field Hockey Season Preview Pt. 2
EVANSTON, Ill. – Fresh off its second national title in program history, the Northwestern field hockey team begins its 2025 campaign on Sunday morning in Richmond, Va.
"We are looking forward to playing another challenging schedule in 2025," head coach Tracey Fuchs said. "We have some top out of region competition along with our Big Ten schedule, which is always one of the toughest in the nation."
Several All-Americans, multiple All-Big Ten players and the 2024 NFHCA Coaching Staff of the Year return for the 'Cats in 2025 as Northwestern looks to attack another championship after claiming the 11th team national title in NU athletics history.
A Historic 2024 Season
After reaching the national championship for the fourth consecutive season, a feat that had only been matched twice before in the sport's history, Northwestern became the sixth field hockey program to win multiple national championships. It also marked Fuch's second title with the Wildcats.
Northwestern topped several national leaderboards in 2024. The Wildcats led the nation (NCAA DI) in wins (23), assists (85), win percentage (95.8%), save percentage (0.854) and shutouts (14).
The 'Cats logged a perfect Big Ten regular season record and collected the regular season Big Ten crown for the second consecutive year while leading the Big Ten in scoring offense and the country in scoring defense. They also extended their regular season conference winning streak to 21 games.
Prime Performers
Northwestern returns three NFHCA All-Americans from 2024: graduate midfielder Maddie Zimmer, junior forward Ashley Sessa and junior back/midfielder Ilse Tromp.
Zimmer, the NFHCA Player of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year and winner of the 2024 Honda Sports Award for Field Hockey, finished tied for third in the conference in assists last season, notching 10 goals and 32 points. She starred in the championship game with two goals and an assist for five points and had game-winning assists in both the NCAA quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.
Sessa dominated Big Ten statistical leaderboards last year en route to her First-Team NFHCA All-America selection. She led the conference in goals (10), finished second in shots on goal (36) and was tied for No. 3 in assists (five).
Tromp, an NFHCA Second-Team All-American in 2024, started all 24 games last season and finished second on the team in goals (11) and third in points (29). Senior midfielder Greta Hinke and junior forward Olivia Bent-Cole also return to the 'Cats in 2025 following Second-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2024.
"We have some great leaders coming back, including Maddie Zimmer who has returned for her final season," Fuchs said. "Greta Hinke and Aerin Krys will join her, and this trio of captains all have different strengths and will help our squad vie for another B1G and National Championship. We will be on the road a lot this fall, and look forward to another successful season for the Wildcats."
Headlining NU's list of newcomers in 2025 is graduate transfer forward Grace Schulze. Originally from Greenwich, Conn., Schulze comes to the 'Cats from Princeton, where she was a two-time All-Ivy League forward selection. Last year, she ranked second on the Princeton roster in assists (seven) and points (15). She is one of three transfers and one of seven newcomers joining the 2025 roster.
Attacking the 2025 Season
The 'Cats open the season with seven consecutive road nonconference matchups. Two of those games are against opponents who start the season inside the NFHCA top 10: Duke (No. 5) and Boston College (No. 8). After Big Ten play commences in late September, one more nonconference game against No. 10 Princeton is scheduled for Oct. 13.
In conference play, where NU has not lost a game during the regular season since 2022, it will face six ranked opponents: Iowa (No. 15), Penn State (No. 18), Rutgers (No. 16), Maryland (No. 4), Michigan (No. 7) and Ohio State (No. 13).
Northwestern will host five regular season games at Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill., including four conference matchups. NU field hockey games are not ticketed and are free to attend.
After closing the regular season on the road at Michigan State, the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament will take place from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9. Played in Bloomington, Indiana, the conference tourney title will be at stake following a seven-game Big Ten slate. NCAA Tournament play begins on Nov. 14 at regional sites.
"We are looking forward to playing another challenging schedule in 2025," head coach Tracey Fuchs said. "We have some top out of region competition along with our Big Ten schedule, which is always one of the toughest in the nation."
Several All-Americans, multiple All-Big Ten players and the 2024 NFHCA Coaching Staff of the Year return for the 'Cats in 2025 as Northwestern looks to attack another championship after claiming the 11th team national title in NU athletics history.
A Historic 2024 Season
After reaching the national championship for the fourth consecutive season, a feat that had only been matched twice before in the sport's history, Northwestern became the sixth field hockey program to win multiple national championships. It also marked Fuch's second title with the Wildcats.
Northwestern topped several national leaderboards in 2024. The Wildcats led the nation (NCAA DI) in wins (23), assists (85), win percentage (95.8%), save percentage (0.854) and shutouts (14).
The 'Cats logged a perfect Big Ten regular season record and collected the regular season Big Ten crown for the second consecutive year while leading the Big Ten in scoring offense and the country in scoring defense. They also extended their regular season conference winning streak to 21 games.
Prime Performers
Northwestern returns three NFHCA All-Americans from 2024: graduate midfielder Maddie Zimmer, junior forward Ashley Sessa and junior back/midfielder Ilse Tromp.
Zimmer, the NFHCA Player of the Year, Big Ten Player of the Year and winner of the 2024 Honda Sports Award for Field Hockey, finished tied for third in the conference in assists last season, notching 10 goals and 32 points. She starred in the championship game with two goals and an assist for five points and had game-winning assists in both the NCAA quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.
Sessa dominated Big Ten statistical leaderboards last year en route to her First-Team NFHCA All-America selection. She led the conference in goals (10), finished second in shots on goal (36) and was tied for No. 3 in assists (five).
Tromp, an NFHCA Second-Team All-American in 2024, started all 24 games last season and finished second on the team in goals (11) and third in points (29). Senior midfielder Greta Hinke and junior forward Olivia Bent-Cole also return to the 'Cats in 2025 following Second-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2024.
"We have some great leaders coming back, including Maddie Zimmer who has returned for her final season," Fuchs said. "Greta Hinke and Aerin Krys will join her, and this trio of captains all have different strengths and will help our squad vie for another B1G and National Championship. We will be on the road a lot this fall, and look forward to another successful season for the Wildcats."
Headlining NU's list of newcomers in 2025 is graduate transfer forward Grace Schulze. Originally from Greenwich, Conn., Schulze comes to the 'Cats from Princeton, where she was a two-time All-Ivy League forward selection. Last year, she ranked second on the Princeton roster in assists (seven) and points (15). She is one of three transfers and one of seven newcomers joining the 2025 roster.
Attacking the 2025 Season
The 'Cats open the season with seven consecutive road nonconference matchups. Two of those games are against opponents who start the season inside the NFHCA top 10: Duke (No. 5) and Boston College (No. 8). After Big Ten play commences in late September, one more nonconference game against No. 10 Princeton is scheduled for Oct. 13.
In conference play, where NU has not lost a game during the regular season since 2022, it will face six ranked opponents: Iowa (No. 15), Penn State (No. 18), Rutgers (No. 16), Maryland (No. 4), Michigan (No. 7) and Ohio State (No. 13).
Northwestern will host five regular season games at Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill., including four conference matchups. NU field hockey games are not ticketed and are free to attend.
After closing the regular season on the road at Michigan State, the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament will take place from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9. Played in Bloomington, Indiana, the conference tourney title will be at stake following a seven-game Big Ten slate. NCAA Tournament play begins on Nov. 14 at regional sites.
Players Mentioned
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