‘Cats Claim Gritty 3-1 Win at No. 10 Iowa

Friday, October 3

Iowa City, Iowa

5 p.m. CT

Northwestern

(10-0, 2-0)

Iowa

(7-2, 1-1)

Northwestern

Iowa

‘Cats Claim Gritty 3-1 Win at No. 10 Iowa

10/3/2025 9:17:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Earning her 250th victory as a head coach, Tracey Fuchs and the No. 1 Northwestern field hockey team took a valiant 3-1 win at No. 10 Iowa on Friday night. The Wildcats (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten) scored all three of their goals in the second half to fend off an early deficit dealt by the Hawkeyes (7-2, 1-1 Big Ten).

Junior back and midfielder Ilse Tromp led NU, scoring twice, while junior forward Piper Borz chipped in with the final goal. Junior forward Ashley Sessa assisted all three goals, reaching 13 assists and 23 points on the season.

Early in the first quarter, both teams' defenses kept the ball moving and away from their goal. The first shot of the game was taken in the seventh minute on a Hawkeyes' corner, saved by NU goalkeeper Juliana Boon. Iowa earned another penalty corner in the 10th minute, which Dionne van Aalsum cashed in for a Hawkeyes lead. NU took its first shot of the game, but was blocked.

To start the second quarter, the 'Cats gained two penalty corners, but were not able to convert on either. Despite the Hawkeyes being held to zero shots in the second quarter, NU remained in the 1-0 deficit headed into halftime.

Trailing to open the second half, the Wildcats earned their fourth penalty corner in the 32nd minute. This time, Tromp found the back of the cage, tying the game with her 10th goal of the season.

Iowa and Northwestern traded corners to start the fourth quarter, and Tromp scored for the second time in the game. Matching her previous seasons' records of 11 goals, Tromp pushed NU to a 2-1 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Just two minutes later, Sessa took off with the ball, going one-on-one against a Hawkeye defender down the field. Sessa passed to Borz, who redirected the ball while falling to the turf, for a gritty goal. Her fourth time scoring this season, the 'Cats took a 3-1 lead. The Hawkeyes received a yellow card and one last penalty corner, but it was not enough to avenge their lost first-half lead.

With the 3-1 win, NU improved to 10-0, 2-0 Big Ten, and accomplished its 22nd consecutive regular-season conference victory. It was also the ninth road victory of the season, and the fourth-straight win against Iowa.

The first quarter goal from van Aalsum was one of only three allowed this season by NU opponents, as first-year standout Boon leads the nation in GAA and shutouts. Boon posted five saves, matching her career and season best.

The 'Cats' defense has been dominant this season, limiting opponents to far below their average shots and goals taken. Hawkeye Dionne van Aalsum leads the nation in points per game (4.25), but was held to two against NU. Van Aalsum took seven of Iowa's 10 shots of the night.

Up next, the Wildcats return home to Lakeside Field for two games. On Friday, Oct. 10, NU hosts Penn State (5-5, 1-2 Big Ten) at 5 p.m. CT. Then, in a top-10 Monday matchup, the 'Cats face No. 8 Princeton (6-3, 2-1 Ivy) on Oct. 13, at 2 p.m. CT. Both games will be streamed on B1G+.