Maddie Zimmer and Ilse Tromp both had two goals and an assist in the first half and Northwestern beat Saint Joseph’s 5-0 in the championship match of the NCAA Division-I women’s field hockey tournament at Phyllis Ocker Field.

The Hawks fell to Northwestern, 5-0, in the NCAA Division I championship on Sunday at Phyllis Ocker Field, giving the Wildcats their second national championship in program history. Their first was in 2021.

Coach Tracey Fuchs choked up in the press room as she addressed reporters following Northwestern’s national championship victory Sunday. Two of her three captains –– senior midfielder Maddie Zimmer and graduate student goalkeeper Annabel Skubisz –– sat next to her,

Hershey grad Maddie Zimmer starred as No. 2 Northwestern scored a NCAA record for goals in the first half and won the NCAA title in its fourth-straight championship appearance

The secondary assist on that goal went to Ashley Sessa, the Episcopal Academy All-Delco and American Olympian who triggered the corner. Sessa added a secondary assist on Zimmer’s second goal. Tromp tucked away another corner goal with seven minutes left in a thoroughly dominant first half. Lauren Hunter tallied three assists.

Senior midfielder Maddie Zimmer intercepted a pass from UMass’ Paula Lorenzini with over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. In a split second, the Big Ten Player of the Year sprinted down Phyllis Ocker Field’s green turf.

Northwestern field hockey won its second national championship in four years, defeating St. Joseph’s 5-0 in the NCAA title game.

It was the second championship for the second-seeded Wildcats (23-1-0), who have played for the title in four straight seasons.