2025 Field Hockey Season Preview

EVANSTON, Ill. – Fresh off its second nationwide title in program historical past, the Northwestern discipline hockey staff begins its 2025 marketing campaign on Sunday morning in Richmond, Va.

“We are looking forward to playing another challenging schedule in 2025,” head coach Tracey Fuchs mentioned. “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, a number of All-Big Ten gamers and the 2024 NFHCA Coaching Staff of the Year return for the ‘Cats in 2025 as Northwestern seems to be to assault one other championship after claiming the eleventh staff nationwide title in NU athletics historical past.

A Historic 2024 Season

After reaching the nationwide championship for the fourth consecutive season, a feat that had solely been matched twice earlier than within the sport’s historical past, Northwestern grew to become the sixth discipline hockey program to win a number of nationwide championships. It additionally marked Fuch’s second title with the Wildcats.

Northwestern topped a number of nationwide leaderboards in 2024. The Wildcats led the nation (NCAA DI) in wins (23), assists (85), win proportion (95.8%), save proportion (0.854) and shutouts (14).

The ‘Cats logged an ideal Big Ten common season file and picked up the common season Big Ten crown for the second consecutive 12 months whereas main the Big Ten in scoring offense and the nation in scoring protection. They additionally prolonged their common season convention profitable streak to 21 video games.

Prime Performers

Northwestern returns three NFHCA All-Americans from 2024: graduate midfielder Maddie Zimmer, junior ahead Ashley Sessa and junior again/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, completed tied for third within the convention in assists final season, notching 10 objectives and 32 factors. She starred within the championship sport with two objectives and an help for 5 factors and had game-winning assists in each the NCAA quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.

Sessa dominated Big Ten statistical leaderboards final 12 months en path to her First-Team NFHCA All-America choice. She led the convention in objectives (10), completed second in pictures on objective (36) and was tied for No. 3 in assists (5).

Tromp, an NFHCA Second-Team All-American in 2024, began all 24 video games final season and completed second on the staff in objectives (11) and third in factors (29). Senior midfielder Greta Hinke and junior ahead Olivia Bent-Cole additionally 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 mentioned. “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 record of newcomers in 2025 is graduate switch ahead Grace Schulze. Originally from Greenwich, Conn., Schulze involves the ‘Cats from Princeton, the place she was a two-time All-Ivy League ahead choice. Last 12 months, she ranked second on the Princeton roster in assists (seven) and factors (15). She is one in all three transfers and one in all seven newcomers becoming a member of the 2025 roster.

Attacking the 2025 Season

The ‘Cats open the season with seven consecutive highway nonconference matchups. Two of these video games are in opposition to opponents who begin the season contained in the NFHCA high 10: Duke (No. 5) and Boston College (No. 8). After Big Ten play commences in late September, another nonconference sport in opposition to No. 10 Princeton is scheduled for Oct. 13.

In convention play, the place NU has not misplaced a sport throughout the common season since 2022, it would 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 5 common season video games at Lakeside Field in Evanston, Ill., together with 4 convention matchups. NU discipline hockey video games usually are not ticketed and are free to attend. 

After closing the common season on the highway at Michigan State, the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament will happen from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9. Played in Bloomington, Indiana, the convention tourney title will probably be at stake following a seven-game Big Ten slate. NCAA Tournament play begins on Nov. 14 at regional websites.