Friday, November 8
College Park, Md.
1:00 PM
Rutgers University
(8-9)
0
vs
2
Northwestern University
(19-0)
1
2
3
4
F
Rutgers
0
0
0
0
0
Northwestern
1
0
0
1
2
Field Hockey Tournament Run Ended by No. 1 Northwestern
Nov 08 | Field Hockey
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Rutgers field hockey (8-9) battled against No. 1 Northwestern (19-0), but ultimately fell, 2-0 to be eliminated in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals. Puck Winter had multiple defensive saves, and RU never relented, but couldn't topple the top-ranked Wildcats.
Puck Winter had four defensive saves, her personal career high for a single game. That gave her 25 in her career, making her the new RU record holder in career defensive saves. She is also tied for the NCAA lead this season with 9.
Northwestern struck first, capitalizing on a penalty corner earned in the first minute of the game. After some passing around the circle found the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year, Ashley Sessa roofed a shot, scoring her 21st goal of the season to an early 1-0 lead for the Wildcats. The remainder of the opening half was played tightly contested from there. At intermission, Northwestern held a one-goal lead, with a 4-2 advantage on shots and 1-1 in corners. Sophia Howard made three saves across the first thirty minutes to keep the margin at bay.
Rutgers pressed in the second half to score. In the third, a corner attempt was halted, and another shot went just wide by the back post.
Late in the third quarter, RU had to play down a player for five minutes due to a yellow card. RU blocked the resulting corner and shortly after held off the attack of another two corner attempts. The Wildcats had five corners in the third stanza, but RU continued to keep them off the board. Puck Winter was a standout in that defensive penalty corner group, making a series of excellent plays to knock the ball away from empty parts of the cage, earning two defensive saves in the time that the Scarlet Knights were killing off the five-minute card.
Rutgers refused to relent in the game and continued pushing to score in the fourth quarter. The team earned a penalty corner with eight minutes to play, but were turned aside.
The Scarlet Knights made a strong push late, especially as they gained a player advantage. RU had a great attempt at a redirection play, but the ball just couldn't connect.
With just under three minutes to play, RU pulled the goalkeeper for an extra attacker. Northwestern then scored an insurance tally to ensure the victory.
Gallery: (11-8-2024) Field Hockey Big Ten Semis
Puck Winter had four defensive saves, her personal career high for a single game. That gave her 25 in her career, making her the new RU record holder in career defensive saves. She is also tied for the NCAA lead this season with 9.
Northwestern struck first, capitalizing on a penalty corner earned in the first minute of the game. After some passing around the circle found the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year, Ashley Sessa roofed a shot, scoring her 21st goal of the season to an early 1-0 lead for the Wildcats. The remainder of the opening half was played tightly contested from there. At intermission, Northwestern held a one-goal lead, with a 4-2 advantage on shots and 1-1 in corners. Sophia Howard made three saves across the first thirty minutes to keep the margin at bay.
Rutgers pressed in the second half to score. In the third, a corner attempt was halted, and another shot went just wide by the back post.
Late in the third quarter, RU had to play down a player for five minutes due to a yellow card. RU blocked the resulting corner and shortly after held off the attack of another two corner attempts. The Wildcats had five corners in the third stanza, but RU continued to keep them off the board. Puck Winter was a standout in that defensive penalty corner group, making a series of excellent plays to knock the ball away from empty parts of the cage, earning two defensive saves in the time that the Scarlet Knights were killing off the five-minute card.
Rutgers refused to relent in the game and continued pushing to score in the fourth quarter. The team earned a penalty corner with eight minutes to play, but were turned aside.
The Scarlet Knights made a strong push late, especially as they gained a player advantage. RU had a great attempt at a redirection play, but the ball just couldn't connect.
With just under three minutes to play, RU pulled the goalkeeper for an extra attacker. Northwestern then scored an insurance tally to ensure the victory.
Team Stats
RU
NU
Goals
0
2
Shots
6
12
Shots on Goal
2
10
Saves
8
2
Corners
5
7
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
37
39
Scoring Plays
Ashley Sessa (5)
Assisted By: Lauren Wadas
GOAL by NU Ashley Sessa (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Lauren Wadas, goal number 5 for season.
0:56
Maddie Zimmer (5)
Assisted By: Olivia Bent-Cole
GOAL by NU Maddie Zimmer, Assist by Olivia Bent-Cole, goal number 5 for season.
58:59
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Field HockeyB
/ Field HockeyRutgers Field Hockey at Penn State Highlights
Saturday, November 01
Rutgers Field Hockey: Win at Indiana Highlights
Friday, October 10
Rutgers Athletics Launches the Athletic Excellence Fund
Monday, October 06
Rutgers Field Hockey Highlights At Michigan State - October 3, 2025
Friday, October 03
