Northwestern Wildcats field hockey

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.

Northwestern Wildcats
Field Hockey
Founded1975
(varsity since 1980)[1]
UniversityNorthwestern University
Head coachTracey Fuchs[2] (15th season season)
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
LocationEvanston, Illinois
StadiumLakeside Field[3]
(Capacity: 300)
NicknameWildcats
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

History

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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

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The 2011 Northwestern field hockey team in action at Penn State during the Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament
Year Head Coach Overall Pct. Conf. Pct. Conf.
Place
Conf.
Tourn.
Postseason
1975 Mary Ann Kelling 5–3–1 .611
1976 Mary DiStanislao 6–2–3 .682
1977 8–7–2 .529 1–4 .200
1978 13–5–1 .711 1–2 .333
1979 Sharon Drysdale 8–10–1 .447
1980 18–6–3 .722
1981 Nancy Stevens 14–5–4 .696 7–2 .778 3rd
1982 17–5 .773 4–1 .800 2nd
1983 20–5 .800 9–1 .900 T1st NCAA Final Four
1984 17–2–1 .875 9–0–1 .950 1st NCAA 1st Round
1985 20–2 .909 9–1 .900 T1st NCAA Final Four
1986 15–4–2 .762 6–2–2 .700 2nd NCAA 2nd Round
1987 14–6–3 .674 6–2–2 .700 2nd NCAA 2nd Round
1988 17–2–1 .875 8–0 1.000 1st NCAA 1st Round
1989 18–4–1 .804 8–1–1 .850 NCAA Final Four
1990 Marisa Didio 15–3–1 .816 7–1 .875 NCAA 1st Round
1991 12–7–1 .625 5–3 .625 NCAA 1st Round
1992 6–11 .353 3–7 .300 T4th
1993 12–6–1 .658 6–4 .600 3rd NCAA 2nd Round
1994 15–4–2 .762 8–1–1 .850 1st 2nd NCAA Final Four
1995 Debra Brickey 13–6 .684 6–4 .600 T2nd T3rd
1996 9–12 .429 3–7 .300 T4th T3rd
1997 7–13 .350 3–7 .300 T5th T5th
1998 Diane Loosbrock 7–13 .350 2–8 .200 6th T5th
1999 4–14 .222 0–10 .000 6th T5th
2000 Marisa Didio 6–13 .316 2–4 .333 T5th T5th
2001 2–13 .133 1–5 .167 6th T5th
2002 6–13 .316 1–5 .167 6th T5th
2003 9–9 .500 1–5 .167 6th T5th
2004 Kelly McCollum 7–13 .350 1–5 .167 T5th T5th
2005 7–11 .389 0–6 .000 6th T5th
2006 7–12 .368 1–5 .167 6th T5th
2007 4–14 .222 0–6 .000 7th T5th
2008 7–13 .350 1–5 .167 6th T5th
2009 Tracey Fuchs 12–8 .600 1–5 .167 6th T5th
2010 11–9 .550 3–3 .500 T4th T5th
2011 12–9 .571 1–5 .167 T6th T5th
2012 16–4 .800 4–2 .667 T2nd T5th
2013 15–5 .750 5–1 .833 T1st T5th
2014 16–7 .696 6–2 .750 T2nd 1st NCAA 1st Round
2015 13–8 .619 4–4 .500 T4th T3rd
2016 13–8 .619 5–3 .625 T3rd T3rd
2017 15–7 .682 6–2 .750 T2nd T3rd NCAA 2nd Round
2018 9–10 .474 3–5 .375 7th T5th
2019 14–7 .667 5–3 .625 4th T5th NCAA 1st Round
2020 12-6 .667 5-3 .625 T3rd T4th NCAA 2nd Round
2021 18-5 .783 5-3 .625 5th T5th NCAA Champions
2022 20-5 .800 5-3 .625 3rd 2nd NCAA Runner-Up
2023 21-2 .913 8-0 1.000 1st 1st NCAA Runner-Up
2024 23-1 .958 8-0 1.000 1st 2nd NCAA Champions

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

Awards and accolades

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Conference championships

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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]

Year Coach Conference Record Overall Record Conference NCAA Result
1983 Nancy Stevens 9–1 20–5 Big Ten NCAA Final Four
1984 9–0–1 17–2–1 NCAA 1st Round
1985 9–1 20–2 NCAA Final Four
1988 8–0 17–2–1 NCAA 1st Round
1994 Marisa Didio 8–1–1 15–4–2 NCAA Final Four
2013 Tracey Fuchs 5–1 15–5
2023 8-0 21–2 NCAA Runner-Up
2024 8-0 23–1 NCAA Champions
8 Conference Championships
8 Big Ten Championships
Year Player
1986 Jennifer Averill
1994 Gretchen Scheuermann

All-Americans

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Key

   First-team selection 

   Second-team selection 

   Third-team selection 

Olympians

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Olympics Player Country
1996 Antoinette Lucas   United States

Awards and accolades through the end of the 2014 season[1][10]

Stadium

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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.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "2014 Northwestern Field Hockey Almanac" (PDF). NUsports.com. Northwestern University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Tracey Fuchs Bio". NUsports.com. Northwestern University. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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 Athletics Association. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Eleven Big Ten Players Earn NFHCA All-America Honors". BTN.com. Big Ten Network. December 1, 2014. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  11. ^ "Lakeside Field (soccer/lacrosse)". NUsports.com. Northwestern University. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
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