Northwestern Wildcats field hockey

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Northwestern Wildcats field hockey
Northwestern Wildcats logo.svg
Founded1975;50 years ago (1975)
(varsity since 1980) [1]
University Northwestern University
Head coach Tracey Fuchs [2] (16th season season)
Conference Big Ten Conference
Location Evanston, Illinois
Stadium Lakeside Field [3]
(Capacity: 300)
Nickname Wildcats
ColorsPurple and white [4]
   
NCAA Tournament championships
2021, 2024
NCAA Tournament runner-up
2022, 2023
NCAA Tournament Semifinals
1983, 1985, 1989, 1994, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
NCAA Tournament appearances
1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference Tournament championships
2014, 2023
Conference Regular Season championships
1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1994, 2013, 2023, 2024

The Northwestern Wildcats field hockey team is the intercollegiate field hockey program representing Northwestern University. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Northwestern field hockey team plays its home games at Lakeside Field on the university campus in Evanston, Illinois. The Wildcats have won eight regular-season conference titles, two conference tournament championships, and have appeared in the NCAA tournament 18 times, advancing to the Final Four on eight occasions. In 2021, the Wildcats won their first NCAA tournament. After a pair of losses in the national championship in 2022 and 2023, the Wildcats won their second NCAA tournament in 2024. The team is currently coached by Tracey Fuchs.

Contents

History

Field hockey has been a varsity sport at Northwestern University since 1980, although the school has fielded intercollegiate teams since 1974. From 1981 to 1988 and again since 1992, the Wildcats have played in the Big Ten Conference. Between 1989 and 1991, Northwestern was a member of the Midwestern Collegiate Field Hockey Conference (MCFHC). The university also considers its 1977 and 1978 teams to have competed in the Big Ten, although field hockey was not a varsity sport at Northwestern for either of these seasons. [1] As a Big Ten member, the Wildcats have won six regular-season conference titles as well as one conference tournament championship. [1] [5] [6] Four of these Big Ten regular-season titles were won under the guidance of head coach Nancy Stevens, who lead the team from 1981 to 1989. Northwestern qualified for the NCAA tournament every year between 1983 and 1994 except for 1992, and it has reached the Final Four on four occasions. [1] The Wildcats are currently coached by Tracey Fuchs. [2] Prior to her tenure, Northwestern has been coached by Mary Ann Kelling (1975), Mary DiStanislao (1976–78), Sharon Drysdale (1979–80), Stevens (1981–89), Marisa Didio (1990–94 and 2000–03), Debra Brickey (1995–97), Diane Loosbrock (1998–99), and Kelly McCollum (2004–08). [1]

Season-by-season results

NWstn Big10Tourn (31) (6313360728).jpg
The 2011 Northwestern field hockey team in action at Penn State during the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament
NWstn Big10Tourn (37) (6312841387).jpg
YearHead CoachOverallPct.Conf.Pct.Conf.
Place		Conf.
Tourn.		Postseason
1975Mary Ann Kelling5–3–1.611–––––
1976Mary DiStanislao6–2–3.682–––––
19778–7–2.5291–4.200–––
197813–5–1.7111–2.333–––
1979Sharon Drysdale8–10–1.447–––––
198018–6–3.722–––––
1981 Nancy Stevens 14–5–4.6967–2.778–3rd–
198217–5.7734–1.8002nd––
198320–5.8009–1.900T1st–NCAA Final Four
198417–2–1.8759–0–1.9501st–NCAA 1st Round
198520–2.9099–1.900T1st–NCAA Final Four
198615–4–2.7626–2–2.7002nd–NCAA 2nd Round
198714–6–3.6746–2–2.7002nd–NCAA 2nd Round
198817–2–1.8758–01.0001st–NCAA 1st Round
198918–4–1.8048–1–1.850––NCAA Final Four
1990 Marisa Didio 15–3–1.8167–1.875––NCAA 1st Round
199112–7–1.6255–3.625––NCAA 1st Round
19926–11.3533–7.300T4th––
199312–6–1.6586–4.6003rd–NCAA 2nd Round
199415–4–2.7628–1–1.8501st2ndNCAA Final Four
1995Debra Brickey13–6.6846–4.600T2ndT3rd–
19969–12.4293–7.300T4thT3rd–
19977–13.3503–7.300T5thT5th–
1998Diane Loosbrock7–13.3502–8.2006thT5th–
19994–14.2220–10.0006thT5th–
2000 Marisa Didio 6–13.3162–4.333T5thT5th–
20012–13.1331–5.1676thT5th–
20026–13.3161–5.1676thT5th–
20039–9.5001–5.1676thT5th–
2004Kelly McCollum7–13.3501–5.167T5thT5th–
20057–11.3890–6.0006thT5th–
20067–12.3681–5.1676thT5th–
20074–14.2220–6.0007thT5th–
20087–13.3501–5.1676thT5th–
2009 Tracey Fuchs 12–8.6001–5.1676thT5th–
201011–9.5503–3.500T4thT5th–
201112–9.5711–5.167T6thT5th–
201216–4.8004–2.667T2ndT5th–
201315–5.7505–1.833T1stT5th–
201416–7.6966–2.750T2nd1stNCAA 1st Round
201513–8.6194–4.500T4thT3rd–
201613–8.6195–3.625T3rdT3rd–
201715–7.6826–2.750T2ndT3rdNCAA 2nd Round
20189–10.4743–5.3757thT5th–
201914–7.6675–3.6254thT5thNCAA 1st Round
202012-6.6675-3.625T3rdT4thNCAA 2nd Round
202118-5.7835-3.6255thT5thNCAA Champions
202220-5.8005-3.6253rd2ndNCAA Runner-Up
202321-2.9138-01.0001st1stNCAA Runner-Up
202423-1.9588-01.0001st2ndNCAA Champions

Season-by-season results through the end of the 2024 season [1] [5] [7] [6] [8] [9]

Awards and accolades

Conference championships

Northwestern has won eight conference titles, all in the Big Ten Conference. Four of their championships were won during the tenure of head coach Nancy Stevens in the 1980s. [1]

YearCoachConference RecordOverall RecordConferenceNCAA Result
1983 Nancy Stevens 9–120–5 Big Ten NCAA Final Four
19849–0–117–2–1NCAA 1st Round
19859–120–2NCAA Final Four
19888–017–2–1NCAA 1st Round
1994Marisa Didio8–1–115–4–2NCAA Final Four
2013 Tracey Fuchs 5–115–5–
20238-021–2NCAA Runner-Up
20248-023–1NCAA Champions
8 Conference Championships
8 Big Ten Championships

Honda Sports Award winners

YearPlayer
1986Jennifer Averill
1994Gretchen Scheuermann
2024Maddie Zimmer

All-Americans

Key

  First-team selection 

  Second-team selection 

  Third-team selection 

Olympians

OlympicsPlayerCountry
1996 Antoinette LucasFlag of the United States.svg  United States
2024 Ashley SessaFlag of the United States.svg  United States
2024Maddie ZimmerFlag of the United States.svg  United States

Awards and accolades through the end of the 2024 season [10] [11]

Stadium

Northwestern has played its home games at Lakeside Field since its construction in 1997. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, the field is part of the university's $3.5-million Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex on the north end of its main campus in Evanston. Lakeside Field features an AstroTurf playing field that was installed in 2015 and a seating capacity of 300, as well as a permanent scoreboard, a sound system, and lighting that allows for the playing of night games. The venue has hosted the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament three times, in 2002, 2004, 2018. [3] Lakeside Field is located adjacent to Lenny and Sharon Martin Stadium, previously also known as Lakeside Field, which is home to Northwestern's women's lacrosse, men's soccer, and women's soccer teams. [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2014 Northwestern Field Hockey Almanac" (PDF). NUsports.com. Northwestern University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Tracey Fuchs Bio". NUsports.com. Northwestern University. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Lakeside Field". NUsports.com. Northwestern University. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Northwestern University's Guide to Using Marks, Colors, Trademarks, and Logos" (PDF). September 21, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Big Ten Field Hockey Record Book" (PDF). BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  6. 1 2 "2014 Big Ten Conference Field Hockey Tournament". MGoBlue.com. University of Michigan. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "2014 Field Hockey Standings". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Three Big Ten teams make 2014 NCAA Field Hockey Tournament". BTN.com. Big Ten Network. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "2014 Division I Field Hockey Tournament". NCAA.com. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "2024 Field Hockey Record Book - Northwestern Athletics" (PDF). nusports.com. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  11. ↑ "NFHCA Proudly Announces Division I All-American Teams - NFHCA". Archived from the original on 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  12. ↑ "Lakeside Field (soccer/lacrosse)". NUsports.com. Northwestern University. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
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