Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 14
Charlottesville, Va.
1:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Yale
‘Cats to Take on No. 12 Yale in First Round of NCAA Tournament
11/13/2025 8:48:00 PM | Field Hockey
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - After claiming both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament championships, the No. 2 Northwestern field hockey team is set to face No. 12 Yale in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The matchup is the fifth-ever meeting between programs, as the Wildcats (18-1, 8-0 Big Ten) attack another national championship.
NU will meet the Bulldogs (12-5, 4-3 Ivy) on Friday, Nov. 14, at 1:30 p.m. CT, streaming on ESPN+. The 'Cats enter the top 15 matchup on a seven-game win streak, leading the nation on both sides of the ball. Junior forward Ashley Sessa recently took the No. 1 spot in the NCAA in points per game (3.22), while redshirt first-year goalkeeper Juliana Boon leads the country in save percentage (.831) and goals against average (.59).
Scouting the Bulldogs
Yale finds itself in new territory, earning its first-ever spot in the NCAA Tournament. With their first meeting in 2005, the Wildcats lead the all-time series, 3-1. With head coach Tracey Fuchs at the helm, NU is 1-1 against the Bulldogs, last meeting in 2011.
Yale enters the first round game on a three-game losing streak, scoring only two goals across the losses. The Bulldogs' 12-win season is tied for the third-most in program history, with one nationally ranked victory (then-No. 19 Monmouth).
Yale's offense is led by All-Ivy First Team selection Poppy Beales, with 12 goals on the season. First-year goalkeeper Amelies Schwarzkopf earned second-team honors, helping the Bulldogs to rank No. 15 nationally in goals against average (1.26). Back Hettie Whittington has posted three game-winning goals in her junior season, including an overtime penalty stroke.
NCAA Tournament History
The Wildcats are 26-20 (.565) in the NCAA Tournament, participating in "the dance" in 20 seasons. NU is 10-4 in first-round games, and 6-2 when led by Coach Fuchs. In her eight tournament appearances, Fuchs and her coaching staff have coached NU to four-straight championship games and two titles.
Northwestern Notables
Last Time Out: Behind a three-goal second half, the No. 2 Northwestern field hockey team knocked off No. 9 Iowa 3-0 to win the 2025 Big Ten Tournament Championship on a frigid Sunday afternoon at Deborah Tobias Field.
The title game shutout earned the Wildcats' third-ever conference tournament championship, and second in three years (2014, 2023, 2025). Adding to the team's already earned regular season title, the 2025 squad becomes the second in program history to collect both Big Ten championships (2023).
With 54 saves through her first 19 collegiate starts, redshirt first-year goalkeeper Boon leads the Big Ten and the nation in goals against average (0.59) and save percentage (0.831). She has allowed 11 goals on the year, is second in the country in goalie win-loss percentage (0.938), and has been credited with 10 of NU's 12 shutouts.
Three Northwestern starters are in the top five in the Big Ten in points per game: Sessa (No. 1 - 3.22 points per game), Grace Schulze (No. 4 - 1.58), and Ilse Tromp (No. 5 - 1.53). Sessa also leads the NCAA in points per game, as the junior forward continues to climb NU's scoring records.
The 2025 captains for Northwestern are Aerin Krys, Greta Hinke, and Maddie Zimmer.
Northwestern had an impressive showing in the Big Ten Postseason Awards, announced on Wednesday. NU brought home five individual honors, as well as eight 'Cats being named to all-conference teams. Zimmer earned a unanimous selection for her second-straight Big Ten Player of the Year award, while Sessa and Tromp were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Coach Fuchs and her staff collected their third consecutive Big Ten Coaching Staff of the Year accolade, as the trio has led the 'Cats to three-straight outright regular season conference titles.
Associate head coach Georgia Holland is a 2014 graduate of Yale, where she was a two-time unanimous first team All-Ivy selection. It is her first time facing her alma mater as an NU coach.
NFHCA Week Ten Ranking: No. 2. The Nov. 11 ranking listed Northwestern as the second-ranked team in the nation for the fourth consecutive week. The 'Cats reigned in the NFHCA poll for seven straight polls, which had not been done by any team since 2022. While now No. 2, the 'Cats are sharing first-place votes with No. 1 UNC.
With a win, Northwestern would continue its postseason in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The round of eight will take place on Sunday, Nov. 16, with each host site determining its champion. The quarterfinal games are scheduled for noon CT and will be streamed on ESPN+, with the winners claiming tickets to the Final Four.
NU will meet the Bulldogs (12-5, 4-3 Ivy) on Friday, Nov. 14, at 1:30 p.m. CT, streaming on ESPN+. The 'Cats enter the top 15 matchup on a seven-game win streak, leading the nation on both sides of the ball. Junior forward Ashley Sessa recently took the No. 1 spot in the NCAA in points per game (3.22), while redshirt first-year goalkeeper Juliana Boon leads the country in save percentage (.831) and goals against average (.59).
Scouting the Bulldogs
Yale finds itself in new territory, earning its first-ever spot in the NCAA Tournament. With their first meeting in 2005, the Wildcats lead the all-time series, 3-1. With head coach Tracey Fuchs at the helm, NU is 1-1 against the Bulldogs, last meeting in 2011.
Yale enters the first round game on a three-game losing streak, scoring only two goals across the losses. The Bulldogs' 12-win season is tied for the third-most in program history, with one nationally ranked victory (then-No. 19 Monmouth).
Yale's offense is led by All-Ivy First Team selection Poppy Beales, with 12 goals on the season. First-year goalkeeper Amelies Schwarzkopf earned second-team honors, helping the Bulldogs to rank No. 15 nationally in goals against average (1.26). Back Hettie Whittington has posted three game-winning goals in her junior season, including an overtime penalty stroke.
NCAA Tournament History
The Wildcats are 26-20 (.565) in the NCAA Tournament, participating in "the dance" in 20 seasons. NU is 10-4 in first-round games, and 6-2 when led by Coach Fuchs. In her eight tournament appearances, Fuchs and her coaching staff have coached NU to four-straight championship games and two titles.
Northwestern Notables
Last Time Out: Behind a three-goal second half, the No. 2 Northwestern field hockey team knocked off No. 9 Iowa 3-0 to win the 2025 Big Ten Tournament Championship on a frigid Sunday afternoon at Deborah Tobias Field.
The title game shutout earned the Wildcats' third-ever conference tournament championship, and second in three years (2014, 2023, 2025). Adding to the team's already earned regular season title, the 2025 squad becomes the second in program history to collect both Big Ten championships (2023).
With 54 saves through her first 19 collegiate starts, redshirt first-year goalkeeper Boon leads the Big Ten and the nation in goals against average (0.59) and save percentage (0.831). She has allowed 11 goals on the year, is second in the country in goalie win-loss percentage (0.938), and has been credited with 10 of NU's 12 shutouts.
Three Northwestern starters are in the top five in the Big Ten in points per game: Sessa (No. 1 - 3.22 points per game), Grace Schulze (No. 4 - 1.58), and Ilse Tromp (No. 5 - 1.53). Sessa also leads the NCAA in points per game, as the junior forward continues to climb NU's scoring records.
The 2025 captains for Northwestern are Aerin Krys, Greta Hinke, and Maddie Zimmer.
Northwestern had an impressive showing in the Big Ten Postseason Awards, announced on Wednesday. NU brought home five individual honors, as well as eight 'Cats being named to all-conference teams. Zimmer earned a unanimous selection for her second-straight Big Ten Player of the Year award, while Sessa and Tromp were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. Coach Fuchs and her staff collected their third consecutive Big Ten Coaching Staff of the Year accolade, as the trio has led the 'Cats to three-straight outright regular season conference titles.
Associate head coach Georgia Holland is a 2014 graduate of Yale, where she was a two-time unanimous first team All-Ivy selection. It is her first time facing her alma mater as an NU coach.
NFHCA Week Ten Ranking: No. 2. The Nov. 11 ranking listed Northwestern as the second-ranked team in the nation for the fourth consecutive week. The 'Cats reigned in the NFHCA poll for seven straight polls, which had not been done by any team since 2022. While now No. 2, the 'Cats are sharing first-place votes with No. 1 UNC.
With a win, Northwestern would continue its postseason in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The round of eight will take place on Sunday, Nov. 16, with each host site determining its champion. The quarterfinal games are scheduled for noon CT and will be streamed on ESPN+, with the winners claiming tickets to the Final Four.
Players Mentioned
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