Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, October 10
Evanston, Ill.
5 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Penn State
Wildcats to Host Penn State, No. 8 Princeton
10/9/2025 7:54:00 PM | Field Hockey
EVANSTON, Ill. - After collecting a comeback Big Ten win on the road, the No. 1 Northwestern field hockey team (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten) returns home this week. The Wildcats will host conference foe Penn State (5-6, 1-3 Big Ten) Friday evening 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, hosting No. 8 Princeton at 2 p.m. CT. Both games will be streamed on B1G+.
Scouting the Nittany Lions
Northwestern trails the all-time series against Penn State 9-35-1, but the Wildcats have won each of the last three meetings. They last met on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Evanston when Northwestern won 7-2.
Penn State enters its matchup against Northwestern having lost five of its last six games. The Nittany Lions have scored just three goals in their last three games.
Penn State junior forward Natalie Freeman and first-year forward Joji Purdy are tied for the team lead with nine points each. Purdy leads the team in goals (four), while Freeman is tied for the team lead in assists (three).
Sophomore goalkeeper Abby Deverka is allowing 1.96 goals per game, which is good for No. 7 in the Big Ten.
Scouting the Tigers
Princeton comes to town on a roll, winning five of its last six games in which it is allowing 0.33 goals per game. The No. 8 Tigers are coming off back-to-back, 2-1 wins on the road over No. 12 Maryland and No. 17 Yale.
Junior goalkeeper Olivia Caponiti is sporting the third-lowest goals against average (1.12) in the Ivy League. Midfielder Beth Yeager leads the team in points (14), goals (five), and assists (four). Yeager has recorded multiple points in five of Princeton's nine games this season.
Northwestern is 3-1 all-time against Princeton. The Wildcats took down the Tigers 3-2 on the road last year. The last time Princeton was in Evanston, Northwestern recorded a 4-0 shutout in 2023.
Northwestern Notables
The No. 1 Northwestern field hockey team took a valiant 3-1 win at No. 10 Iowa on Friday night. The Wildcats scored all three of their goals in the second half to fend off an early deficit dealt by the Hawkeyes.
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 on all three goals, reaching 13 assists and 23 points on the season.
The 'Cats' defense has been dominant this season, limiting opponents to far fewer shots and goals than their averages. Iowa forward Dionne van Aalsum led the nation in points per game (4.25) heading into last week's contest, but she was held to just two points against NU.
With 31 saves through her first 10 collegiate starts, first-year 'Cats goalkeeper Julianna Boon leads the nation in goals against average (0.30). She has allowed just three goals on the year and also leads the country in goalie win-loss percentage (1.00) and save percentage (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 10th win as the Wildcats' goalkeeper, posting five saves en route to her first Freshman of the Week award. Tromp scored two goals against the Hawkeyes to keep the 'Cats' unbeaten streak alive and collect Defensive Player of the Week honors. NU improved to 10-0 (2-0 Big Ten), and extended its conference regular-season winning streak to 22 games.
After claiming their second national championship in four years and eighth Big Ten regular season title in 2024, the 'Cats look ahead to attack 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 ranking maintains NU's No. 1 position, for the sixth straight poll. Following its first-ever unanimous preseason No. 1 from the NFHCA, the 'Cats collected back-to-back weeks of unanimous selection. The Wildcats spent six weeks in the No. 1 spot last season en route to winning the program's second national title.
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, hosting No. 8 Princeton at 2 p.m. CT. Both games will be streamed on B1G+.
Scouting the Nittany Lions
Northwestern trails the all-time series against Penn State 9-35-1, but the Wildcats have won each of the last three meetings. They last met on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Evanston when Northwestern won 7-2.
Penn State enters its matchup against Northwestern having lost five of its last six games. The Nittany Lions have scored just three goals in their last three games.
Penn State junior forward Natalie Freeman and first-year forward Joji Purdy are tied for the team lead with nine points each. Purdy leads the team in goals (four), while Freeman is tied for the team lead in assists (three).
Sophomore goalkeeper Abby Deverka is allowing 1.96 goals per game, which is good for No. 7 in the Big Ten.
Scouting the Tigers
Princeton comes to town on a roll, winning five of its last six games in which it is allowing 0.33 goals per game. The No. 8 Tigers are coming off back-to-back, 2-1 wins on the road over No. 12 Maryland and No. 17 Yale.
Junior goalkeeper Olivia Caponiti is sporting the third-lowest goals against average (1.12) in the Ivy League. Midfielder Beth Yeager leads the team in points (14), goals (five), and assists (four). Yeager has recorded multiple points in five of Princeton's nine games this season.
Northwestern is 3-1 all-time against Princeton. The Wildcats took down the Tigers 3-2 on the road last year. The last time Princeton was in Evanston, Northwestern recorded a 4-0 shutout in 2023.
Northwestern Notables
The No. 1 Northwestern field hockey team took a valiant 3-1 win at No. 10 Iowa on Friday night. The Wildcats scored all three of their goals in the second half to fend off an early deficit dealt by the Hawkeyes.
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 on all three goals, reaching 13 assists and 23 points on the season.
The 'Cats' defense has been dominant this season, limiting opponents to far fewer shots and goals than their averages. Iowa forward Dionne van Aalsum led the nation in points per game (4.25) heading into last week's contest, but she was held to just two points against NU.
With 31 saves through her first 10 collegiate starts, first-year 'Cats goalkeeper Julianna Boon leads the nation in goals against average (0.30). She has allowed just three goals on the year and also leads the country in goalie win-loss percentage (1.00) and save percentage (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 10th win as the Wildcats' goalkeeper, posting five saves en route to her first Freshman of the Week award. Tromp scored two goals against the Hawkeyes to keep the 'Cats' unbeaten streak alive and collect Defensive Player of the Week honors. NU improved to 10-0 (2-0 Big Ten), and extended its conference regular-season winning streak to 22 games.
After claiming their second national championship in four years and eighth Big Ten regular season title in 2024, the 'Cats look ahead to attack 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 ranking maintains NU's No. 1 position, for the sixth straight poll. Following its first-ever unanimous preseason No. 1 from the NFHCA, the 'Cats collected back-to-back weeks of unanimous selection. The Wildcats spent six weeks in the No. 1 spot last season en route to winning the program's second national title.
Players Mentioned
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/ Field HockeyField Hockey - ‘Cats Claim Gritty 3-1 Win at No. 10 Iowa
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