NU Claims Back-to-Back Big Ten Tournament Titles with 3-0 Shutout Over Maryland

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The No. 1-seeded Northwestern field hockey team is back-to-back Big Ten Tournament Champions, defeating No. 2 Maryland 3-0 in Sunday’s championship game.

The Wildcats (18-2, 7-1 Big Ten) have now captured four conference tournament titles (2014, 2023, 2025, 2026), including three of the last four. With the win, they also clinched the Big Ten’s automatic qualifying spot in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. NU is the first team to win back-to-back Big Ten tournament titles since Penn State in 2011 and 2012.

Including their 3-0 semifinal win over Indiana, the Wildcats went the entire 2026 conference tournament without allowing a single goal, outscoring opponents 6-0. Northwestern is the first team since Michigan in 2017 to complete this feat in a Big Ten tournament run.

NU’s offense was led by senior forward Ashley Sessa, who netted the first two goals of the game, before Jess Freedman scored the third. Raquel Hofmeister tallied an assist, while goalkeeper Juliana Boon recorded her 9th shutout of the year and seven saves — just one off of her career high from NU’s semifinal contest against Indiana. 

Sessa’s performance on Sunday, as well as her goal and assist in the semifinals, earned her Big Ten Tournament MVP honors. Sessa and Boon were each named to the All-Tournament Team.

Holding the NFHCA poll’s top-ranked Terrapins scoreless for the first time this season, the Wildcats claimed their second win this year over Maryland (18-2, 7-1 Big Ten).

Northwestern dominated Maryland in scoring, despite the shot battle being even at 12-12. However, the ‘Cats drew seven corners compared to the Terrapins two, while holding off their scoring attempts with a standout defensive effort.

The first shots of the game came from a Maryland penalty corner, where Francisco Eschoyez and Brinkley Eyre’s attempts were blocked directly by Boon. Bent-Cole and Sessa brought the ball into Northwestern’s goal circle in the 12th minute, but Sessa’s shot attempt went wide. At the end of the first quarter, the score remained 0-0.

Hofmeister facilitated the first goal of the game. She brought the ball down the right side of the goalpost and passed to Sessa through traffic, who found the back of the cage. Maryland’s Jordyn Hollamon got a chance two minutes later, but Boon dove to put her ball away with her stick.

Boon made two more big plays in the 25th minute, coming out of her cage to dive in front of back-to-back shots from Maryland’s Aida Ierubino. To end the half, she stopped a shot from Babs Van Hest to bring her first-half save count to six.

Northwestern led 1-0 at halftime with Boon’s defense keeping its lead alive, though Maryland was outshooting it 8-4 and 6-2. Both teams had drawn two corners apiece at the break. 

Laura Salamanca began the second half with back-to-back shots on corners, both of which were blocked by Maryland defenders. Bent-Cole drew a third straight corner for the ‘Cats in the 32nd minute. She then received the ball off the insert, sweeping it to the left side of the post for Sessa to deflect behind Maryland goalie Alyssa Klebasko and put NU up 2-0.

Boon’s first-half momentum continued into the third quarter on the subsequent offensive run from Maryland, putting a glove on Ella Beach’s shot. Hofmeister continued to press for Northwestern, creating two chances for her team in the circle to keep the momentum with the ‘Cats ending the third quarter. 

Northwestern scored its third goal of the day in the 45th minute, quickly kicking off the fourth quarter. After Klebasko stopped Hofmeister’s initial drag-flick, Freedman grabbed the rebound and gave the ‘Cats a 3-0 lead. Her goal sealed the win for Northwestern, which held off Maryland for the rest of the game and captured the tournament championship.

Northwestern will look to its 2026 NCAA Tournament fate, announced at 9 p.m. CT on Sunday, Nov. 8, when the selection show takes place. It will be streamed on NCAA.com.

All-Tournament Team
Mijntje Hagen, 3rd, F, IND
Inés Garcia Prado, 4th, M, IND
Dionne van Aalsum, 4th, M, IOWA
Fréderique van Cleef, 5th, F, IOWA
Ella Beach, Fr., M, MD
Josie Hollamon, So., F, MD
Ashley Sessa, Sr., F, NU
Juliana Boon, Jr., G, NU
Anne Marie Krebs, Sr., M, OSU
Aby Deverka, Jr., G, PSU
Talia Schenck, 5th, F, RU

Most Outstanding Player
Ashley Sessa, Sr., F, NU