Wildcats to Host Penn State, No. 8 Princeton

EVANSTON, Ill. – After accumulating a comeback Big Ten win on the street, the No. 1 Northwestern subject hockey staff (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten) returns residence this week. The Wildcats will host convention foe Penn State (5-6, 1-3 Big Ten) Friday night and No. 8 Princeton (6-3, 2-1 Ivy League) on Monday afternoon. 

The Wildcats will face the Nittany Lions at 5 p.m. CT on Oct. 10 at Lakeside Field. On Monday, Oct. 13, the ‘Cats return to Lakeside Field for a top-10 matchup, internet hosting No. 8 Princeton at 2 p.m. CT. Both video games will probably be streamed on B1G+.

Scouting the Nittany Lions

Northwestern trails the all-time collection towards Penn State 9-35-1, however the Wildcats have gained every of the final three conferences. They final met on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Evanston when Northwestern gained 7-2.

Penn State enters its matchup towards Northwestern having misplaced 5 of its final six video games. The Nittany Lions have scored simply three targets of their final three video games.

Penn State junior ahead Natalie Freeman and first-year ahead Joji Purdy are tied for the staff lead with 9 factors every. Purdy leads the staff in targets (4), whereas Freeman is tied for the staff lead in assists (three).

Sophomore goalkeeper Abby Deverka is permitting 1.96 targets per recreation, which is nice for No. 7 within the Big Ten.

Scouting the Tigers

Princeton involves city on a roll, profitable 5 of its final six video games through which it’s permitting 0.33 targets per recreation. The No. 8 Tigers are coming off back-to-back, 2-1 wins on the street over No. 12 Maryland and No. 17 Yale.

Junior goalkeeper Olivia Caponiti is sporting the third-lowest targets towards common (1.12) within the Ivy League. Midfielder Beth Yeager leads the staff in factors (14), targets (5), and assists (4). Yeager has recorded a number of factors in 5 of Princeton’s 9 video games this season.

Northwestern is 3-1 all-time towards Princeton. The Wildcats took down the Tigers 3-2 on the street final yr. The final time Princeton was in Evanston, Northwestern recorded a 4-0 shutout in 2023.

Northwestern Notables

The No. 1 Northwestern subject hockey staff took a valiant 3-1 win at No. 10 Iowa on Friday night time. The Wildcats scored all three of their targets within the second half to fend off an early deficit dealt by the Hawkeyes.

Junior again and midfielder Ilse Tromp led NU, scoring twice, whereas junior ahead Piper Borz chipped in with the ultimate aim. Junior ahead Ashley Sessa assisted on all three targets, reaching 13 assists and 23 factors on the season.

The ‘Cats’ protection has been dominant this season, limiting opponents to far fewer photographs and targets than their averages. Iowa ahead Dionne van Aalsum led the nation in factors per recreation (4.25) heading into final week’s contest, however she was held to only two factors towards NU.

With 31 saves by her first 10 collegiate begins, first-year ‘Cats goalkeeper Julianna Boon leads the nation in targets towards common (0.30). She has allowed simply three targets on the yr and likewise leads the nation in goalie win-loss proportion (1.00) and save proportion (0.912).

Players of the Week: Juliana Boon (Big Ten Freshman of the Week) and Ilse Tromp (NFHCA, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week)

Boon notched her tenth win because the Wildcats’ goalkeeper, posting 5 saves en path to her first Freshman of the Week award. Tromp scored two targets towards the Hawkeyes to maintain the ‘Cats’ unbeaten streak alive and accumulate Defensive Player of the Week honors. NU improved to 10-0 (2-0 Big Ten), and prolonged its convention regular-season profitable streak to 22 video games.

After claiming their second nationwide championship in 4 years and eighth Big Ten common season title in 2024, the ‘Cats look forward to assault their 2025 slate. Over half of Northwestern’s 2025 opponents appeared in NFHCA preseason rankings.

The 2025 captains for Northwestern are Greta Hinke, Aerin Krys, and Maddie Zimmer.

NFHCA Week Five Ranking: No. 1. The Oct. 7 rating maintains NU’s No. 1 place,  for the sixth straight ballot. Following its first-ever unanimous preseason No. 1 from the NFHCA, the ‘Cats collected back-to-back weeks of unanimous choice. The Wildcats spent six weeks within the No. 1 spot final season en path to profitable this system’s second nationwide title.