Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 14
Charlottesville, Va.
1:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
(20-1, 8-0)
5
vs
1
Yale
(12-7, 4-3)
1
2
3
4
F
Yale
0
0
0
1
1
Northwestern
0
1
1
3
5
NU Downs No. 12 Yale 5-1, Advances to NCAA Quarterfinal
11/14/2025 6:55:00 PM | Field Hockey
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Behind a four-goal second half, the No. 2 Northwestern field hockey team defeated No. 12 Yale, 5-1, on Friday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats (19-1, 8-0 Big Ten) allowed only three shots from the Bulldogs, as junior forwards Piper Borz and Ashley Sessa put away two goals apiece.
Graduate student midfielder Maddie Zimmer chipped in with a goal of her own, while Sessa and sophomore Eva Nemeth posted assists. NU outshot the Bulldogs (12-6, 4-3 Ivy) 24-3, en route to the victory for a spot in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The Wildcats will meet No. 11 Miami (OH) on Sunday, Nov. 16, at noon CT.
The first quarter was controlled by the 'Cats, pressing the tempo to take five shots. In the 14th minute, NU earned its first penalty corner, for a shot on goal saved by Yale.
Zimmer was all over the field in her dominant first half, using her ball control and speed to steal the ball from Yale, helping hold the Bulldogs to a shotless half. The 'Cats took their second penalty corner of the day in the 26th minute, where sophomore midfielder Laura Salamanca fired off a shot on goal. Saved again by the Bulldogs, Yale goalkeeper and second-team All-Ivy selection Amelies Schwarzkopf tallied four saves in the first half.
Late in the second period, junior back Ilse Tromp set up an aerial pass to junior forward Olivia Bent-Cole downfield. Bent-Cole fired the ball to Sessa, who found Borz's stick for the deflection into the cage. The 27th-minute goal put Northwestern on the board, heading into the break with a 1-0 lead.
The second half opened with the 'Cats right back on the ball, taking seven shots, before Sessa scored off the rebound in the 41st minute.
Both squads retook the turf in the fourth quarter with urgency, seeking to survive and advance. Halfway through the final period, Nemeth got away with the ball and shot, seeking a deflection. The sophomore found Borz's stick, as the forward notched her second goal of the day and a three-goal advantage for NU. It was Nemeth's first assist, and Borz's second multi-goal game of the season.
On the Bulldogs' second penalty corner of the day, junior forward Tabs Collier found the back of the cage. Yale got on the board with its first shot on goal, with just over four minutes remaining.
Just a minute later, Zimmer broke away with the ball midfield, taking it all the way to the goal to reclaim the three-point lead. In the 58th minute, Sessa received a penalty shot, which she cashed in to seal a 5-1 Wildcats' win.
NU had 14 shots on goal in the victory, led by Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Sessa, with four. The 'Cats took only four penalty corners, tied for the least this season, and well below NU's average of 8.74 per game.
With the victory, NU improved to 19-1 on the season, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals on Sunday. The 'Cats will face the No. 12 Miami RedHawks (16-4, 8-1 MAC) on Nov. 16, at noon CT, with a ticket to the Final Four on the line.
Streaming on ESPN+, the regular-season rematch is no stranger to NU, which is 3-0 against the RedHawks on the NCAA Tournament stage. Miami (OH) earned its place in the quarterfinal after a 2-1 win over No. 4 seed Virginia on Friday, claiming its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
Graduate student midfielder Maddie Zimmer chipped in with a goal of her own, while Sessa and sophomore Eva Nemeth posted assists. NU outshot the Bulldogs (12-6, 4-3 Ivy) 24-3, en route to the victory for a spot in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The Wildcats will meet No. 11 Miami (OH) on Sunday, Nov. 16, at noon CT.
'Cats win! ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 14, 2025
Five goals on Friday for the ?????????????? >> on to the QFs pic.twitter.com/BRdEZQV9Tg
The first quarter was controlled by the 'Cats, pressing the tempo to take five shots. In the 14th minute, NU earned its first penalty corner, for a shot on goal saved by Yale.
Zimmer was all over the field in her dominant first half, using her ball control and speed to steal the ball from Yale, helping hold the Bulldogs to a shotless half. The 'Cats took their second penalty corner of the day in the 26th minute, where sophomore midfielder Laura Salamanca fired off a shot on goal. Saved again by the Bulldogs, Yale goalkeeper and second-team All-Ivy selection Amelies Schwarzkopf tallied four saves in the first half.
Late in the second period, junior back Ilse Tromp set up an aerial pass to junior forward Olivia Bent-Cole downfield. Bent-Cole fired the ball to Sessa, who found Borz's stick for the deflection into the cage. The 27th-minute goal put Northwestern on the board, heading into the break with a 1-0 lead.
The second half opened with the 'Cats right back on the ball, taking seven shots, before Sessa scored off the rebound in the 41st minute.
Sessa on the insert and the GOALLL ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 14, 2025
NU 2 | Yale 0
?? @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/0OMhtQxEgC
Both squads retook the turf in the fourth quarter with urgency, seeking to survive and advance. Halfway through the final period, Nemeth got away with the ball and shot, seeking a deflection. The sophomore found Borz's stick, as the forward notched her second goal of the day and a three-goal advantage for NU. It was Nemeth's first assist, and Borz's second multi-goal game of the season.
On the Bulldogs' second penalty corner of the day, junior forward Tabs Collier found the back of the cage. Yale got on the board with its first shot on goal, with just over four minutes remaining.
Just a minute later, Zimmer broke away with the ball midfield, taking it all the way to the goal to reclaim the three-point lead. In the 58th minute, Sessa received a penalty shot, which she cashed in to seal a 5-1 Wildcats' win.
Zimmer all the way for goal No. 4??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 14, 2025
No. 8 fires back to retake the 3-point lead
NU 4 | Yale 1 pic.twitter.com/jzGCvEacCg
NU had 14 shots on goal in the victory, led by Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Sessa, with four. The 'Cats took only four penalty corners, tied for the least this season, and well below NU's average of 8.74 per game.
With the victory, NU improved to 19-1 on the season, advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals on Sunday. The 'Cats will face the No. 12 Miami RedHawks (16-4, 8-1 MAC) on Nov. 16, at noon CT, with a ticket to the Final Four on the line.
Streaming on ESPN+, the regular-season rematch is no stranger to NU, which is 3-0 against the RedHawks on the NCAA Tournament stage. Miami (OH) earned its place in the quarterfinal after a 2-1 win over No. 4 seed Virginia on Friday, claiming its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
Team Stats
YALE
NORTHWES
Goals
1
5
Shots
3
24
Shots on Goal
1
14
Saves
9
0
Corners
2
4
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
Piper Borz
Assisted By: Ashley Sessa
tip in high
27:43
Ashley Sessa
Lift in off rebound
41:15
Piper Borz
Assisted By: Eva Nemeth
tip in from hit outside of circle
52:45
Collier, Tabs
Assisted By: Whittington, Hettie
deflected in off corner
55:28
Maddie Zimmer
breakaway, slapshot from top of circle
56:47
Ashley Sessa
Northwestern Ashley Sessa PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 0 for season.
58:42
Game Leaders
Shots
5
SOG
4
Goals
2
Assists
1
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
6
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Field HockeyF
/ Field HockeyM/B
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field HockeyF
/ Field Hockey
B/M
/ Field HockeyM
/ Field HockeyField Hockey - NU Downs No. 12 Yale 5-1, Advances to NCAA Quarterfinal
Friday, November 14
Field Hockey - Schulze, ‘Cats Best Michigan, 5-3, in Big Ten Semifinal
Sunday, November 09
Field Hockey - Northwestern Wins Big Ten Tournament Championship, Defeats Iowa 3-0
Sunday, November 09
Field Hockey - Sessa Notches Four Goals in NU Shutout at Michigan State (10/31/25)
Friday, October 31
