The first round of the 2025 NCAA Field Hockey Tournament begins on Friday, with Northwestern set to take on No. 12 Yale at 1:30 p.m. in Charlottesville. Before gameplay kicks off, Inside NU’s Yanyan Li,
Calvin Kaplan and Brendan Preisman took the time to preview both Northwestern’s possible journey, as well as the tournament as a whole.
All first-round games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
All of you participated in Northwestern field hockey’s preseason roundtable. Did you have any takes that you think aged well/poorly?
Yanyan: I overrated Maryland to start the season, naming it as Northwestern’s most important matchup and also listing it as one of my Final Four picks. There was good reason to — the Terrapins had the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation and were comprised of talented players like 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jordyn Hollamon. However, they ended up going 10-8, falling in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament and missing the Big Dance for just the second time in 30 years. And while they did spark what I thought was Northwestern’s worst-performing first half of the season, their overall resume disappointed.
I also think it’s funny that nobody listed Princeton as Northwestern’s most crucial matchup. Had the Wildcats won that, the NCAA Tournament bracket would have looked a lot different.
Calvin: Similarly, I drastically overhyped Maryland at the beginning of the year. As it turned out, the Big Ten sans Northwestern was a hodgepodge of solid teams all beating up on each other, with no emergence of a second-tier team that truly stood above the others. On the other hand, I think my Grace Schulze hype was very warranted, as she truly elevated her play with Northwestern, especially in the Big Ten Tournament. Schulze’s presence has been massive for this group of NU forwards, and I’d expect her to continue being a force in the NCAA Tournament.
Brendan: I’ve been on the Ilse Tromp train since well before the season started, but my prediction that she’d be the most exciting (non-Zimmer/Sessa division) player on the team has been right on the money. Not only was Tromp named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, but she’s also already set a career high in goals with 13 (and there are still several games to go). She’s become an Iowa killer, with three goals in two matchups against the Hawkeyes, and her five-game scoring streak in midseason was absolutely mind-boggling to watch. I have no doubt she’ll get a few more goals as Northwestern continues its postseason run. Now that I’m done tooting my own horn…what did I see in Michigan in the preseason? The Wolverines are 5-6 away from Ann Arbor and lost to the Wildcats by multiple goals in both matchups. I had Michigan in the Final Four, but the Maize and Blue didn’t even make the NCAA tournament! Yikes.
Obviously, Northwestern’s placement in the NCAA Tournament has caused some controversy. That aside, what do you make of the Wildcats’ draw?
Yanyan: Virginia was a top-three team in the nation for most of the year, so I’m not exactly thrilled with having to play it to get to the Final Four. But considering the travesty that is Northwestern’s seeding, the draw in itself is less egregious in comparison. The Hoos are good but have some vulnerabilities — they couldn’t score against Maryland at home until the fourth quarter and got taken to penalties by Syracuse in the ACC semifinals. And after not allowing more than two goals all year, they’ve allowed three or more goals in three of their last four games. And while I would have rather seen NU play a lower-ranked team to get to championship weekend, UVA isn’t unbeatable either.
Barring an extreme upset, Northwestern should be favored over Yale, which comes in with the inexperience of having never played in an NCAA Tournament. It also hasn’t faced a power conference team in over two years. Miami-Ohio is red-hot and shouldn’t be underestimated (especially if it upsets Virginia), but the ‘Cats have also beaten the RedHawks by at least three goals in their last three matchups. So overall, while the ‘Cats drawing isn’t the easiest, it’s not the end of the world either.
Calvin: I’m of the mindset that Northwestern should have been the No. 2 seed in this year’s tournament. To answer the question at hand, though, I am interested to see how the ‘Cats stack up against a sneaky Yale squad, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they have some early jitters in round one. The Bulldogs have managed to stay competitive in a difficult Ivy League conference, so it’s easy to envision a close contest at halftime given the Wildcats’ tendency to start slow in games (more on that later).
Getting past Yale would, in all likelihood, yield a matchup against Virginia, a team led by truly stellar goalkeeping from Nilou Lempers. The ‘Cats have more star power overall than the Cavaliers, but if Lempers can bring her A-game, fans should expect a long day ahead in Charlottesville.
Brendan: The stick sport world hates any good team west of the Appalachian Mountains and those in power do their best to ensure those good western teams have the hardest road possible — oh, we’re being professional here? Cool. This Yale squad has a few intriguing players, and much like Northwestern, the Bulldogs are starting an underclassman (first-year Amelie Schwarzkopf) in goal. She’s top-20 nationally in save percentage, and she’s kind of had to be — Yale has just the 30th-best scoring offense in the nation. That lack of offensive firepower showed to close the season, and the Bulldogs are currently riding a three-game losing streak in which they’ve scored two total goals.
Virginia, though, is a much steeper hill to climb. The aforementioned Nilou Lempers easily won ACC Goalkeeper of the Year thanks to nine shutout performances. However, the Cavaliers’ defense has slipped mightily as the calendar has ticked closer to 2026 – Virginia’s given up multiple goals in each of its last four games. The draw for Lempers starts off with Miami-Ohio, the top scoring offense in the NATION, with (ideally) Northwestern (and national points per game leader Ashley Sessa) waiting for Virginia in the quarterfinals. The game plan for both these matchups should be fairly similar, and the Wildcats have the defense to win in a slugfest.
What is the potential matchup that you’re most concerned about in the bracket for the Wildcats?
Yanyan: A possible semi-final against North Carolina. Since the fall of 2021, the Tar Heels have been the only team to beat Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament, and if you watch this team play, you can understand why. This year specifically, there’s a reason why UNC’s No. 1 placement is arguably the least controversial seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels have two wins over Duke and No. 4 Virginia, as well as a victory over No. 2 Princeton, Syracuse and Iowa respectively — in other words, they have seven wins over top 10 RPI teams compared to Northwestern’s three. They can dominate, as seen in their 4-1 ACC Championship game win over Virginia, but are also battle-tested from an overtime win over Duke and a comeback from down 3-1 against Syracuse.
While Northwestern may have a similar level of or more talent than UNC (though Ryleigh Heck, Charly Bruder, Dani Mendez and co. are superstars in their own right), this Tar Heels team knows how to win. That experience will only help them in the tournament, and could give a relatively less-challenged team like the Wildcats some fits.
Calvin: I, too, am concerned about a possible UNC matchup. I think that contest, if it occurs, would ultimately decide the national champion, and it’s brutal for both teams to have to play each other before the tournament’s final round. The Tar Heels are hitting their stride at the right time, handling business easily against tough opponents in the ACC Tournament. If the ‘Cats face North Carolina, they’ll need some all-time performances from their stars to keep up.
Brendan: Let’s assume that Northwestern either avoids the Tar Heels (the two teams haven’t played since 2023’s national title game, which is genuinely stunning given how much the field hockey world has revolved around the two schools since then) or manages to overcome them. Does anyone really want to see Princeton again? The Grace Schulze revenge game — in Evanston, mind you — did not go the way the Wildcats planned. Northwestern fell 3-2 on October 13 despite outshooting the Tigers 18-13 and winning the penalty corner battle 10-4, but it never really felt like the ‘Cats were in control. Princeton is a deserving No. 2 seed that hasn’t lost since SEPTEMBER, and the Tigers absolutely have the defense to throw a wrench into Northwestern’s offense if the two teams meet up again.
Given Northwestern’s perceived slight against it, what kind of mentality does it need to carry into the tournament?
Yanyan: Focus on what’s in front of it, but also let the underdog mentality fuel it. On one hand, if Northwestern wants to win another title, it must find a way to win regardless of the circumstances. It doesn’t matter how or where it wins. Yes, the Wildcats may have a more difficult path to the title game than they would as a seeded team, but beating multiple teams on the caliber of Virginia and North Carolina — especially in a year with as much parity as this one — is necessary to prove it is capable of coming out on top. But on the other hand, I don’t think playing angry and motivated from NU’s tournament draw is going to hurt the team. If anything, it serves as a reminder that there is still much work to do. With the RPI signalling that the ‘Cats aren’t at the level of the top four resume-wise, no game will come easy, and that will hopefully ensure that they don’t get complacent at any point.
Calvin: Block out the noise. I think head coach Tracey Fuchs has shown her ability to coach a winning mindset into this Northwestern squad, and the ‘Cats have come out on top as underdogs many times before, most notably in their 2021 national championship season. The Wildcats have looked much better since their loss to Princeton, a defeat that truly put this team on notice and forced it to play at a higher level. Northwestern has the talent necessary to win a second straight national title, but Wildcat players must maintain focus throughout the tournament, as one bad quarter could mark the end of their NCAA Tournament run.
Brendan: Get back to basics. Both Michigan and Iowa gave the ‘Cats a bit of a scare in the Big Ten Tournament, but in the end, Northwestern cruised to victory in both of those contests for a simple reason: possession control. The Wildcats outshot their postseason opponents by a ludicrous 30-10 margin, and both fourth quarters were masterpieces of time-killing ball control. The Big Ten Tournament showed both sides of Northwestern’s deadliness: the quick-strike, high-flying transition offense against Michigan, and the suffocating defense against Iowa. Possession control requires a good midfield, and in Maddie Zimmer, Emilie Kirschner and Laura Salamanca, the Wildcats might have the best midfield in the country.
What is something that you really like from Northwestern, and what is something it needs to improve upon heading into the NCAA Tournament?
Yanyan: I really like the way Northwestern’s players are all learning to carve out their roles and contribute. In my column this week, I highlighted how well Ashley Sessa, Olivia Bent-Cole and Grace Schulze complement each other, creating what I think is Northwestern’s most dominant offensive unit in several years. But this goes beyond the attack. Maddie Zimmer is of course a jack-of-all-trades in the midfield, but Laura Salamanca emerged as an All-Big Ten midfielder herself. Ilse Tromp is manning the defense and scored a dragflick goal for the first time in over a month, while Maja Zivjojnovic has given the ‘Cats some clutch scoring chances. Boon is only going to get more experienced in goal. So many players on this team can be game-changers — if they can step up, the Wildcats will be hard to beat.
That said, Northwestern needs to improve at finishing what it started. To Calvin’s point about getting off to faster starts, this team is really good at taking over by repeatedly finding looks and shooting the ball. However, against tougher opponents, it cannot afford to miss “almost” goals. Against Iowa, the Wildcats were 0-for-10 in the first half — that needs to be cleaned up come NCAA Tournament time, or else other teams will take advantage and find ways to score themselves in response. In a sport where one possession can make-or-break a game, regardless of whatever else happens, they need to start capitalizing more on the chances they get.
Calvin: The ‘Cats have been excellent at making halftime adjustments, scoring many goals in the third quarter and running away from teams in the second half. On the flip side, I’d like to see them get off to faster starts. Many teams have been able to hang around early in games against the Wildcats this season, and against a high-powered squad like UNC, a slow start could end up digging a hole too great for NU to climb out of. We saw this against Princeton — a multi-goal deficit in the fourth quarter was simply too much for even Northwestern’s stars to come back from.
Brendan: The Wildcats have been fantastic at drawing penalty corners all season long. Northwestern is seventh nationally at 8.32 penalty corners a game, which means this team is basically guaranteeing itself eight setup opportunities right in front of the goal. The question is, will the ‘Cats be able to take advantage of those opportunities? The Wildcats went 1-for-3 against Iowa, 2-for-8 against Michigan, 1-for-5 against Maryland, and (cover your ears) 1-for-10 against Princeton. In the NCAA Tournament, you cannot afford to leave any of those opportunities off the table. Northwestern has to convert on the penalty corner if this team wants to prove it’s the best in the nation.
Who will be the most important player for the Wildcats throughout the tournament?
Yanyan: Maddie Zimmer. Northwestern doesn’t win without the contributions of everyone, and there have been games where I didn’t think Zimmer was the X-Factor. But this is the NCAA Tournament we’re talking about — a tournament where Zimmer has been the Most Outstanding Player not once but twice. Assuming they beat Yale, the Wildcats are likely to face teams that are better than what they’ve seen this year. They’ll need their most skilled and versatile player to show up for the entire team to get going, whether that be through passing, drawing penalty corners, getting the ball into the circle, corner offense and defense, etc.
Most likely, teams like Virginia and North Carolina are going to stymie Zimmer’s impact by making sure the ball doesn’t reach right midfield. And while other midfielders like Laura Salamanca and Kate Janssen must perform so teams don’t totally zero in on Zimmer, history proves that good things happen in critical moments when No. 8 gets the ball. On the occasions when she will be open and have an outlet, whether she can properly capitalize and turn a run into a goal will heavily decide these games.
Calvin: It’s Maddie Zimmer, and the Princeton game proves it. Not to harp too much on that contest, but the Wildcats’ lone loss really does provide a great blueprint for how to stop this team. The Tigers realized they could slow NU’s offensive attack simply by denying any passes to Zimmer, the base of the proverbial tree that generates all of its branches of attack.
Zimmer barely touched the ball until the fourth quarter in that game, allowing Princeton to deny the transition opportunities that have been so vital for Northwestern’s scoring pushes. In just about every other game this year, the reigning National Player of the Year has been dominant. Her dampened performance against Princeton only further proved why she’s so necessary for the Wildcats’ success.
Brendan: Yes, Maddie Zimmer is easily the most important player on this team. But I read this question in a different way — which player could raise the ceiling for this team the most if they perform above expectations? For that, the answer is Juliana Boon. Replacing Annabel Skubisz is one of the most unenviable tasks in the history of field hockey, but Boon’s done an admirable job. She leads the nation in goals against average and save percentage, and is second in winning percentage behind only Harvard’s Linde Burger.
With that being said…Boon is also part of a team that can utterly dominate possession (which is why she’s tied for 67th nationally in saves per game). At some point in this tournament, and certainly by the Final Four, Northwestern will run into a team that can make the possession battle close to even. That could put a lot of pressure on a goalkeeper in her first NCAA Tournament as a starter, especially one who has faced more than eight shots in a game just once all SEASON. That game was against…Princeton, and Boon managed to tally five saves in a valiant effort. If she can put on the type of performance she had against Boston College (five saves on five shots against) versus the best of the best, then the trophy is Northwestern’s to lose.
Aside from Northwestern games, is there an intriguing matchup/upset pick that you have in the bracket?
Yanyan: I’m curious about one, the outcome of the Liberty-Syrcause first round game, and two, how Princeton will fare against either team. The Orange beat the Tigers in Princeton earlier this season and had an impressive ACC tournament run where they took Virginia to a penalty shootout. Meanwhile, the Flames’ 2025 campaign is flawless except for narrow losses to Virginia and North Carolina. Not only will that game be a measuring stick for how the ACC stacks up against top talent in other conferences, but both squads will also test a Princeton team that’s catching fire.
Calvin: I’m interested to see how Iowa looks against Duke. That matchup should be a good litmus test to determine how the ACC truly stacks up against the Big Ten, and a Duke win would be a huge statement showing off the depth of the former conference. On the other hand, the Hawkeyes truly can score with anybody. Although Dionne van Aalsum struggled to make an impact with just one shot in the Big Ten title game, she remains a significant threat to any opposing defensive unit. She — along with the rest of this Hawkeye squad — should be fun to watch against the Blue Devils.
Brendan: Yes, Northwestern got a tough draw, having to go to Charlottesville for the first two rounds. But what if the Wildcats don’t have to play the hosts? Remember that Virginia’s defense has slipped a little in recent games, and the Cavaliers have to deal with the top-scoring offense in the country. Sure, Miami Ohio’s defense has ranged from poor to nonexistent against elite competition this season. But if the RedHawks get the first goal on Friday morning…look out.
Finally, give me your Final Four, as well as your predicted outcome.
Yanyan: Northwestern, North Carolina, Princeton and Wake Forest. Purported Northwestern “bias” aside, I think the Wildcats are *at least* a top two team based on the eye test. I think they make it out of the Charlottesville region for a date with North Carolina in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, I don’t see any challengers in UNC’s region — St. Joe’s returns just one starter from its team that made the title game last year, while the Tar Heels beat both Duke and Iowa handily in their most recent matchups against both teams. Princeton has to get through Syracuse, a team it lost to earlier, but the Tigers have looked like a totally different team since beating Northwestern. And for my “hot take” pick, I have Wake Forest upsetting Harvard to earn the final spot. The Demon Deacons are on a two-game losing streak, but I also think the Crimson’s relatively soft regular-season resume (Princeton win aside) will hurt them in the postseason.
In the Final Four, I have Northwestern going on a revenge tour, defeating UNC and Princeton for the title. Part of this may be wishful thinking, especially since I think North Carolina will pressure the Wildcat defense more than anyone, but NU absolutely has the talent and now added motivation to pull off back-to-back titles.
Calvin: Northwestern, North Carolina, Syracuse and Wake Forest. I know I downplayed the Orange in the context of their win over Princeton, but this team is highly volatile, able to lose against underdogs but also able to take down top teams. That could be just the formula necessary to win in the NCAA Tournament, and since Syracuse has already beaten the Tigers, who’s to say they can’t do it twice?
Additionally, I share Yanyan’s concerns that Harvard’s somewhat-easier schedule hasn’t fully prepared the Crimson for the tournament stage. Wake Forest is the only team that has claimed victory over UNC this season, so despite the inconsistencies, I think the potential is there for the Demon Deacons to upset Harvard in a truly impressive 60-minute performance. Finally, I’ve said it before, but UNC and Northwestern are the field hockey titans of the NCAA. I wouldn’t be shocked if UVA beats the ‘Cats, but in all likelihood, the Final Four will feature a matchup for the ages between the best team in the ACC and the best team in the Big Ten.
In the end, though, I do see UNC getting past the ‘Cats to take on a surprise Wake Forest team in the title game. The Tar Heels may have the early-season Demon Deacon disaster on their minds, but in the end, the top-to-bottom talent of this UNC squad should be enough to push it to glory.
Brendan: North Carolina, Princeton, Harvard, Northwestern. Can I just say that I feel the Ivy League has been WAY undervalued by my colleagues? Why are we looking at Harvard (top-10 goalie nationally, eight shutouts this season, top-15 offense, top-five scoring margin) and just assuming that Wake Forest is going to get past them? Harvard has given up multiple goals in a game this season TWICE, and Wake Forest has a tendency to get mired in slugfests against inferior competition. As for Princeton, I think they’re easily the second-best team in the nation by resume, and maybe just by talent level as well. I don’t think the Tigers should have much trouble making the Final Four.
With all that out of the way — my picks are either chalk or Northwestern bias. And as we learned in last year’s men’s basketball Final Four, once you get a (mostly) chalky Final Four, all bets are off. It comes down to experience, clutch execution, and the ability to dig deep and make that one extra play that other teams or players are simply incapable of. You know who checks all those boxes? The Northwestern Wildcats. I said in the preseason that the team’s goal is to bring all the trophies back to Evanston. I have full faith in them to do just that.
