'Cats Topple No. 1 UNC 4-3 in Overtime, Clinch Fifth Straight Title Appearance

Friday, November 21

Durham, N.C.

1:30 p.m. CT

Northwestern

(21-1, 8-0)

North Carolina

(21-2, 7-1)

Northwestern

North Carolina

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

'Cats Topple No. 1 UNC 4-3 in Overtime, Clinch Fifth Straight Title Appearance

11/21/2025 4:51:00 PM | Field Hockey

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By: Jake Epstein, NUSports.com

DURHAM, N.C. — The No. 2 Northwestern field hockey team battled back from a two-goal deficit, twice, to stun No. 1 North Carolina 4-3 in overtime in Friday's NCAA Tournament Semifinal clash at Jack Katz Field.

With the win, the Wildcats (21-1, 8-0 Big Ten) advanced to their fifth consecutive national championship game. Graduate student forward Grace Schulze delivered the game-winner, while senior back Maja Zivojnovic, junior forward Olivia Bent-Cole and junior back Ilse Tromp added scores. Graduate student midfielder Maddie Zimmer recorded a game-high two assists.

In her first-career Final Four start, redshirt first-year goalkeeper Juliana Boon recorded three saves, including a crucial denial in overtime.

The result snapped a 13-game winning streak for the Tar Heels (21-2, 7-1 ACC). The 'Cats' victory, upsetting top-ranked UNC, was the largest deficit overcome in a Final Four game since 2011. Northwestern becomes the first program since 1993-97 (UNC) to claim five-straight trips to NCAA title games.

FOR THE FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR, THE WILDCATS ARE HEADED BACK TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! pic.twitter.com/Rarj4lEsuW
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 21, 2025

Although Northwestern pushed into the opposing circle in the game's initial moments, UNC opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Ryleigh Heck's goal gave the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead.

Just over four minutes later, Kara Heck doubled North Carolina's lead on the matchup's first penalty corner. The Heck sisters' pair of conversions marked the difference between the two teams in the first 15 minutes as the Tar Heels carried a 2-0 advantage into the second quarter.

The Wildcats drew their first penalty corner 34 seconds into the second quarter, but Northwestern couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. However, when NU drew a pair of 28th-minute penalty corners, Zivojnovic scored her sixth goal of the season to cut the deficit to 2-1. Sessa and Bent-Cole recorded assists on the scoring play.

MAJA MAGIC ??

No. 23 puts up her 6??th goal of the season to get the 'Cats on the board. ??

NU 1 | UNC 2 pic.twitter.com/2EWkpfMGyn
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 21, 2025

After posting three second-quarter shots, the Wildcats headed into halftime trailing by one goal.

North Carolina extended the lead to 3-1 with 9:53 remaining in the third quarter as Isabel Boere scored on a penalty corner, putting the 'Cats' deficit back at two.

In the 43rd minute, Bent-Cole tipped in a Zimmer feed for a goal, trimming the Tar Heels' lead to 3-2. Northwestern commanded the third quarter's late stages, outshooting North Carolina 4-1 and earning five penalty corners in the period.

Zimmer! to OBC! ??

No. 3 makes it a 1-goal game with her 6??th of the season. ??

NU 2 | UNC 3 pic.twitter.com/exlMxhNnDA
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 21, 2025

As the Wildcats battled for a crucial tying goal, head coach Tracey Fuchs elected to pull Boon in favor of an extra attacker with less than four minutes to play. The tactic ultimately paid major dividends.

With 77 seconds remaining, Sessa drew a pivotal penalty corner. Tromp buried the equalizer off a slick Zimmer behind-the-back feed.

This goal in slo-mo? ?? Chills.

Zimmer's decoy -> flick from Tromp to knot it ?? pic.twitter.com/VqdTIGsLGz
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) November 21, 2025

After Northwestern fended off a last-minute UNC penalty corner, the teams entered overtime knotted at 3-3.

The Tar Heels drew two penalty corners just over two minutes into the overtime period, but the Wildcats' defense thwarted both efforts.

In the final minute of the initial overtime period, Northwestern turned defense into instant offense, with graduate student forward Schulze playing a feed toward Sessa in the circle and scoring her 14th goal of the season to send the Wildcats back to Championship Sunday.

THE 'CATS ARE HEADING BACK TO THE 'SHIP ?? pic.twitter.com/AuBvdFFVLJ
— Big Ten Field Hockey (@B1GFieldHockey) November 21, 2025

The Wildcats will be back in action as they vie for a second consecutive national championship, meeting Princeton on Sunday, Nov. 23. The title game pass-back is slated for noon CT on ESPNU.