NU Relentless in 5-0 Win at No. 15 Rutgers

Friday, October 17

Piscataway, N.J.

3 p.m. CT

Northwestern

(12-1, 4-0)

Rutgers

(8-6, 3-2)

Northwestern

Rutgers

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

NU Relentless in 5-0 Win at No. 15 Rutgers

10/17/2025 6:09:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The No. 1 Northwestern field hockey team returned to shutout success on Friday afternoon, taking down No. 15 Rutgers, 5-0, on the road. The Wildcats (12-1, 4-0 Big Ten) sought to attack the ranked conference matchup after suffering their first loss of the season, and did so relentlessly.

Junior forward Ashley Sessa led NU to victory over the Scarlet Knights (8-6, 3-2 Big Ten) with a hat trick. It was a familiar scene, as the three-goal game for Sessa was the second of her career, the first also against Rutgers (Oct. 4, 2024). Senior back Maja Zivojnovic and graduate forward Grace Schulze each also chipped in with a goal apiece.

NU's offense had only one more penalty corner than Rutgers, but with 17 shots and 11 shots on goal, it proved to be kryptonite for RU's redshirt first-year goalkeeper Emily Nicholls. The Scarlet Knight (as of Oct. 16) leads the Big Ten with 77 saves and places fourth nationally in save percentage. In NU's cage, 'Cats redshirt first-year goalkeeper Juliana Boon posted four saves, pushing Northwestern to notch its ninth shutout of the season.

The first quarter got off to a slow start, with only three total shots, all from NU, taken through 14 minutes. The Wildcats took their first penalty corner of the game at 14:31, which Sessa inserted. Olivia Bent-Cole took the stick stop and set up Zivojnovic for the shot. Deflected in by Sessa, the 'Cats were first on the board.

Resuming play for the second period, Rutgers came back on the turf ready to attack offensively, firing off five shots in just three minutes with two penalty corners. Boon protected the cage against the Scarlet Knights, posting three saves to keep them scoreless. In the 28th minute, Bent-Cole got away with the ball on the other side of the field, passing to Schulze. Finding the 3-on-2 chance, Schulze shot and found a way around Rutgers' Nicholls to double the NU lead. Her eighth goal of the season sent the 'Cats into the half with a 2-0 advantage.

OBC ? SCHULZE ??

No. 13 with her 8th goal of the season to extend the 'Cats' lead.

NU 2 | RU 0 pic.twitter.com/alGEcKPaXw
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 17, 2025

Northwestern and Rutgers traded shots to start the second half, each saved, until an NU penalty corner in the 43rd minute. Sessa inserted for Bent-Cole's stop, which this time Zivojnovic took home. Her second goal of the season put the Wildcats up 3-0.

At 10 minutes remaining, Sessa took charge in Rutgers' territory, taking a shot to book her 10th goal of the season. Up 4-0, NU took three more penalty corners. The Scarlet Knights had two more of their own, but could not find the back of the cage.

With less than one minute on the clock, Bent-Cole found a run, passing to Sessa for yet another goal. The 'Cats claimed the 5-0 win as the clock ran out.

'Cats weren't done quite yet ??

OBC ? Sessa and a 5-0 W.

Sessa scores her second goal of the day, this one in the final minute. pic.twitter.com/rxLSNNs4Dv
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 17, 2025

NU's fourth five-goal game of the season, the Wildcats improved to 12-1, while remaining perfect in Big Ten play (4-0). The result also marked 24-straight victories in Big Ten regular-season matchups.

5-0 Friday ??

The ranked B1G road W = 'Cats improve to 12-1 (4-0 Big Ten). pic.twitter.com/Hyv0TBEYCe
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 17, 2025

Sessa showed out in Piscataway, with a hat-trick and an assist. The junior now has 11 goals and 14 assists this season, the only 'Cat with double digits in both. Bent-Cole tallied three assists in the win, setting a new career high.

Up next, NU stays on the East Coast to face ranked conference foe No. 10 Maryland. The Terrapins (8-5, 4-2 Big Ten) are coming off a 2-1 shootout loss to unranked Indiana. The Wildcats will take on the Terps on Sunday, Oct. 19, at noon CT on B1G+.