Northwestern
Stanford
Northwestern Looks to Extend Perfect Season During 50th Anniversary Weekend
10/17/2024 12:43:00 PM | Field Hockey
EVANSTON, Ill. — No. 2 Northwestern (13-0) enters a pivotal weekend at Lakeside Field with a chance to rewrite the record books. With two home games, the Wildcats could surpass the 1985 team's 14-0 start to claim the best opening run in program history. Northwestern first faces Stanford on Friday, October 18, at 3 p.m. CT during Alumni Day, followed by a Senior Day showdown against UC Davis on Sunday, October 20, at 12 p.m. CT. Both games will be streamed live on B1G+.
Half a century of NU Field Hockey! ?? #NUFHSaid
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 16, 2024
Coach Fuchs and alumni share the memories that built this legacy ??????
Spotify???: https://t.co/sIyU2G6od0
Apple Music ???: https://t.co/ytutxafu1T pic.twitter.com/7k1nQEett0
Friday vs. Stanford: Alumni Day
The Wildcats kick off the weekend against Stanford, where they'll look to extend their unbeaten streak while honoring the field hockey alumni who helped build the program's legacy. The last meeting between these two teams in 2019 was an epic double-overtime battle, with Northwestern prevailing in a 3-2 shootout. The Wildcats hold a 14-7-0 advantage in the all-time series, dating back to 1981.
Stanford (5-7) enters the contest on a six-game losing streak, with all losses coming against ranked opponents. With home-field advantage and alumni support, Northwestern aims to continue its dominance and maintain its perfect start.
Sunday vs. UC Davis: Senior Day
The Wildcats will celebrate their exceptional senior class in Sunday's matchup against UC Davis. The last encounter between the two teams saw Northwestern overpower UC Davis 7-1 in 2021. Annabel Skubisz kept a clean sheet in the first half of that game, anchoring a commanding win.
UC Davis (2-8) arrives on a seven-game losing streak and will face Iowa before taking on Northwestern. The Wildcats will be eager to close the weekend with a strong performance and honor their seniors with a victory.
Key Players to Watch
Northwestern's offense has been on fire this season. Ashley Sessa leads the charge with 34 points (13 goals, 8 assists), while Maddie Zimmer has contributed 16 points (6 goals, 4 assists). Olivia Bent-Cole made her presence felt with a goal in last week's 3-2 win over No. 9 Harvard, bringing her season total to 11 points (5 goals, 1 assist).
Still buzzing over this beauty of a finish ?? pic.twitter.com/qGT08S7hnQ
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 14, 2024
Chasing History
With a 13-0 record, Northwestern stands on the verge of history. A win on Friday would bring the Wildcats within one game of surpassing the 1985 team's 14-0 start, the best in program history. Northwestern is also focused on defending its Big Ten title and securing an undefeated regular season.
