After a successful weekend on the road against unranked Ohio State and No. 15 Michigan, No. 1 Northwestern (12-0, 3-0 Big Ten) remains one of only three Division 1 field hockey teams with an undefeated record this season.
The 5-0 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes was the ‘Cats’ third consecutive shutout, following their wins over UC Davis (7-0) and Michigan State (6-0) the previous weekend.
The ‘Cats continued their dominant start of the season Friday, controlling possession and limiting Ohio State’s
offensive opportunities. Northwestern outshot Ohio State 13-5 on goal, controlling the offensive end throughout the game.
Junior forward Nadia Nemeth led the scoring against OSU with two goals, doubling her career goal total. Additionally, senior forward Ashley Sessa, sophomore Jessica Freedman and freshman Raquel Hofmeister each contributed to the goal scoring.
The ‘Cats struck early with a penalty corner shot from senior Olivia Bent-Cole that Sessa tipped in a between-the-legs shot. Just 90 seconds later, junior Laura Salamanca assisted Nemeth on the second goal leaving little room for a response from the Buckeyes.
But offense was not the only place the ‘Cats showed off their dominance. Junior goalkeeper Juliana Boone held down the defensive circle with three saves and earned her eighth shutout of the season.
Ohio State had several opportunities to respond, including the first shot of the game, but the Buckeyes were never able to make it through the ‘Cats defense and ended the game with zero penalty corner opportunities.
Friday’s game was just the beginning of a fruitful weekend. The ‘Cats closed their Big Ten conference road trip by playing one of their toughest matchups so far this season: No. 15 Michigan.
Sessa led the ‘Cats in scoring with a hat trick and assist. The back-to-back Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year earned her fifth career hat trick and ninth goal of the season. Bent-Cole, senior defender Isle Trompe and junior midfielder Sol Martinez also contributed goals.
Northwestern outshot Michigan 17-4 and drew eight penalty corners to the Wolverines five. Both teams were deprived of scoring opportunities in the first quarter leaving the score at 0-0.
But in the second quarter, Sessa opened up scoring in the 19th minute. The Wolverines responded with three shot attempts and two penalty corners but the ‘Cats defense was quick to shut all goal opportunities down.
Northwestern dominated possession and scoring opportunities, jumping out to a 3-0 halftime lead before Sessa completed her hat trick in the fourth quarter.
Michigan’s Kelsey Reviello did earn a goal during a penalty corner late in the fourth quarter but the ‘Cats continued to run the clock down to successfully beat the Wolverines 6-1.
The reigning national champs will continue to defend their undefeated 2026 season record against two strong competitors next week, facing No. 6 Iowa at home on Friday and No. 10 Princeton on the road on Sunday.
