Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, October 24
Evanston, Ill.
3 p.m. CT
Northwestern
(14-1 (6-0Big Ten))
3
vs
1
Michigan
(8-5 (3-3Big Ten))
1
2
3
4
F
Michigan
0
0
1
0
1
Northwestern
0
1
2
0
3
Photo by: Michelle Nartey/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Win Big Ten Regular Season Title, Defeat Michigan 3-1
10/24/2025 7:57:00 PM | Field Hockey
EVANSTON, Ill. — Improving to 6-0 in conference play, the No. 2 Northwestern field hockey team clinched its third consecutive Big Ten regular-season title on Friday afternoon. With a 3-1 victory over No. 13 Michigan, the Wildcats claimed the championship for the ninth time in program history at Lakeside Field. The program secured the outright title with two regular-season games to spare.
"I couldn't be more grateful," head coach Tracey Fuchs said. "It's hard to win in any conference. In the Big Ten, it's really hard to win. We've just been really consistent. We have great leadership across the board. It just feels really good."
Sophomore forward Laura Salamanca, junior forward Ashley Sessa and junior forward Olivia Bent-Cole each scored for the Wildcats (14-1, 6-0 Big Ten), who have now won 26 consecutive conference regular-season games.
The Wolverines (8-5, 3-3 Big Ten) were held to just six shots, two of which were on target.
"With the parity in the Big Ten, I couldn't be more proud of our program, our staff, the team around the team. It's just been an amazing day, and what a great victory on our field."
Sessa's goal marked her third game-winning tally of the 2025 campaign and 14th as a Wildcat. The junior led all scorers with three points (one goal, one assist). Sessa leads the 'Cats offense this season in goals (12), assists (15) and points (39).
Redshirt junior forward Aerin Krys met her game-high two assists in her third multi-assist performance this season.
In a tense opening quarter, Sessa tallied the lone shot for either team, which Michigan goalkeeper Hala Silverstein saved.
Less than 90 seconds into the second quarter, Maddie Zimmer tested Silverstein with a shot just inside the circle, but the netminder preserved the deadlock.
On the second of two Wildcat penalty corners in quick succession, Salamanca scored the opener with 5:46 remaining in the first half, capitalizing on Krys' and graduate student forward Grace Schulze's assists for her second career goal.
"She's been practicing that corner all year," Fuchs said of Salamanca. "When you have Ilse [Tromp] and Maja [Zivojnovic], she doesn't get as many reps. We knew we needed somebody who could get the ball off the move, and she put it home today."
The sophomore nearly doubled her tally two minutes later, but her attempt breezed wide left.
NU, which built a 9-0 shot advantage in the first 30 minutes of action, carried a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Just 44 seconds into the third quarter, the Wolverines leveled the scoreline, with Eva Bernardy scoring on a penalty corner to knot the game at 1-1.
After conceding on the visitors' first shot attempt of the game, the 'Cats responded emphatically. Sessa deflected in Krys' second assist with 5:17 remaining in the period before Bent-Cole turned in Northwestern's third tally just over a minute later.
"We just kept going," Fuchs said. "Our forwards really connected, and we're getting the ball in really good spaces in the circle to get some shots off. And then second shots, that's where you win games."
As the Wildcats entered the fourth quarter with a 3-1 lead, they stood in control of their own destiny in the Big Ten regular season championship race. Just 15 minutes away from hoisting another piece of hardware amid a historic multi-year run, Northwestern upheld its standard.
Following a scoreless, final frame, the newly crowned Big Ten champions doused their coach in Gatorade and celebrated the title on home turf.
"[It felt] really cold," Fuchs said of her Gatorade bath. "But I made sure that I wasn't letting go of Sessa. I took somebody with me this time, so now she knows how it feels."
Next up for the Wildcats is a Sunday clash with No. 18 Ohio State at Lakeside Field. The game — NU's final regular season home contest — is slated for a 12 p.m. CT start, with streaming on B1G+.
Right where it belongs ???? pic.twitter.com/pXXr0IckOK
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 24, 2025
"I couldn't be more grateful," head coach Tracey Fuchs said. "It's hard to win in any conference. In the Big Ten, it's really hard to win. We've just been really consistent. We have great leadership across the board. It just feels really good."
Sophomore forward Laura Salamanca, junior forward Ashley Sessa and junior forward Olivia Bent-Cole each scored for the Wildcats (14-1, 6-0 Big Ten), who have now won 26 consecutive conference regular-season games.
The Wolverines (8-5, 3-3 Big Ten) were held to just six shots, two of which were on target.
"With the parity in the Big Ten, I couldn't be more proud of our program, our staff, the team around the team. It's just been an amazing day, and what a great victory on our field."
Sessa's goal marked her third game-winning tally of the 2025 campaign and 14th as a Wildcat. The junior led all scorers with three points (one goal, one assist). Sessa leads the 'Cats offense this season in goals (12), assists (15) and points (39).
Redshirt junior forward Aerin Krys met her game-high two assists in her third multi-assist performance this season.
In a tense opening quarter, Sessa tallied the lone shot for either team, which Michigan goalkeeper Hala Silverstein saved.
Less than 90 seconds into the second quarter, Maddie Zimmer tested Silverstein with a shot just inside the circle, but the netminder preserved the deadlock.
On the second of two Wildcat penalty corners in quick succession, Salamanca scored the opener with 5:46 remaining in the first half, capitalizing on Krys' and graduate student forward Grace Schulze's assists for her second career goal.
Salamanca SCORES ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 24, 2025
No. 18 notches her first goal of the season to give the 'Cats the 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/A2WWcTuEWd
"She's been practicing that corner all year," Fuchs said of Salamanca. "When you have Ilse [Tromp] and Maja [Zivojnovic], she doesn't get as many reps. We knew we needed somebody who could get the ball off the move, and she put it home today."
The sophomore nearly doubled her tally two minutes later, but her attempt breezed wide left.
NU, which built a 9-0 shot advantage in the first 30 minutes of action, carried a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Just 44 seconds into the third quarter, the Wolverines leveled the scoreline, with Eva Bernardy scoring on a penalty corner to knot the game at 1-1.
After conceding on the visitors' first shot attempt of the game, the 'Cats responded emphatically. Sessa deflected in Krys' second assist with 5:17 remaining in the period before Bent-Cole turned in Northwestern's third tally just over a minute later.
And OBC MAKES IT THREE ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 24, 2025
NU 3 | MICH 1 pic.twitter.com/KG0tVecpER
"We just kept going," Fuchs said. "Our forwards really connected, and we're getting the ball in really good spaces in the circle to get some shots off. And then second shots, that's where you win games."
As the Wildcats entered the fourth quarter with a 3-1 lead, they stood in control of their own destiny in the Big Ten regular season championship race. Just 15 minutes away from hoisting another piece of hardware amid a historic multi-year run, Northwestern upheld its standard.
Following a scoreless, final frame, the newly crowned Big Ten champions doused their coach in Gatorade and celebrated the title on home turf.
Your ???????? ?????? ??????????????-???????????? ?????????????????? ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) October 24, 2025
'Cats make it three-straight OUTRIGHT titles, keeping the hardware at home. ?? pic.twitter.com/BWtfNGAbhO
"[It felt] really cold," Fuchs said of her Gatorade bath. "But I made sure that I wasn't letting go of Sessa. I took somebody with me this time, so now she knows how it feels."
Next up for the Wildcats is a Sunday clash with No. 18 Ohio State at Lakeside Field. The game — NU's final regular season home contest — is slated for a 12 p.m. CT start, with streaming on B1G+.
Team Stats
MICH
NU
Goals
1
3
Shots
6
18
Shots on Goal
2
8
Saves
5
1
Corners
5
5
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Laura Salamanca
Assisted By: Aerin Krys , Grace Schulze
Fired off corner.
24:14
Bernardy, Eva
Assisted By: Burnett, Abby , Tran, Emmy
Fired off corner.
30:44
Ashley Sessa
Assisted By: Aerin Krys
Deflected shot
39:43
Olivia Bent-Cole
Assisted By: Ashley Sessa
40:57
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
2
Players Mentioned
F
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/ Field HockeyField Hockey - ‘Cats Win Big Ten Regular Season Title, Defeat Michigan 3-1
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Friday, October 17
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Saturday, October 11
