The legend of coach Tracey Fuchs grows with each passing win.
Three-time national champion, once as a player and twice as a coach. USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame electee. Winningest coach in school history. And with No. 1 Northwestern’s 3-1 defeat of No. 10 Iowa Friday, Fuchs earned her 250th win as a coach.
The contest marked the Wildcats’ (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten) fourth ranked win of the season and third top-10 win. NU has won six of its last seven matchups against Iowa.
After playing their first home game of the season last weekend, the ’Cats headed back on the road to face the Hawkeyes (7-2, 1-1 Big Ten).
The first quarter marked an unorthodox start for NU, as it was outshot 3-0 in the first 11 minutes. One of those shots found the back of the net off the stick of midfielder Dionne van Aaslum. Coming into this weekend, van Aaslum led the nation in goals per game.
The ’Cats notched their first shot attempt before the end of the quarter, but Iowa still held a 1-0 lead through 15 minutes of play.
In the second quarter, NU attempted three shots and two penalty corners but were unable to sneak anything past Iowa goalkeeper Mia Magnotta.
Still trailing 1-0 into the third quarter, the ’Cats looked to capitalize on an early penalty corner from junior forward Ashley Sessa. She passed the ball to junior forward Olivia Bent-Cole, setting up junior defender Ilse Tromp for a shot that found the back of the goal. Tromp has scored in five straight games.
Each team attempted two shots during the remainder of the quarter, but neither could convert for a score.
With the game knotted at 1-1, both teams battled for the lead with multiple scoring chances early in the fourth quarter. Just over four minutes into the final frame, deja vu struck as Sessa took another penalty corner. She found Bent-Cole, who stopped the ball for Tromp, and Tromp again snuck it narrowly past the keeper.
Later in the quarter, Sessa took the ball down the right side of the field and outpaced her defender. As she approached the goal, she drew the Iowa goalkeeper away and sent a pass to junior forward Piper Borz. Borz took advantage of the open net and scored. It was her fourth goal of the season.
The ’Cats’ defense allowed just two shots during the remainder of the match and held on to claim a 3-1 victory.
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Juliana Boon tallied five saves and allowed one goal, just the third goal she’s conceded this season. Tromp notched her fourth game of the season with at least two goals. Sessa tallied at least one assist for the fifth straight game and her second with three assists. Bent-Cole logged her second consecutive game with two assists.
NU returns home to face off against Penn State Friday at 5 p.m.
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