COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ashley Sessa scored twice to lead No. 1 seed Northwestern to a 3-0 victory over No. 2 seed Maryland in the championship game of the 2026 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament presented by Allstate. The event is part of the Allstate Women’s Championship Series.
 
Northwestern becomes the first school since Penn State in 2011-12 to capture back-to-back Big Ten Tournament crowns and claims its third title in four years.
 
Sessa opened scoring when she bounced on a rebound two minutes into the second quarter. Northwestern capitalized on a pair of penalty corners in the second half to put the game out of reach. Sessa deflected a shot from Olivia Bent-Cole at 32:56 and Jessica Freedman took advantage of a scramble in front of goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko to add an insurance goal at 45:32.
 
Sessa received the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award, compiling three goals and seven points in two games. She was joined on the all-tournament by goalkeeper Juliana Boon, who did not allow a goal in the tournament. Josie Hollamon and Ella Beach earned all-tournament accolades for Maryland (18-2), which entered today’s action as the nation’s top-ranked team.
 
Northwestern (18-2), ranked second nationally, receives the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, which begins next week. The Big Ten is expected to receive additional at-large berths when the NCAA bracket is revealed tonight at 9 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.

All-Tournament Team
Inés Garcia Prado, 4th, M, IND
Mijntje Hagen, 3rd, F, IND
Dionne van Aalsum, 4th, M, IOWA
Fréderique van Cleef, 5th, F, IOWA
Ella Beach, Fr., M, MD
Josie Hollamon, So., F, MD
Ashley Sessa, Sr., F, NU
Juliana Boon, Jr., G, NU
Anne Marie Krebs, Sr., M, OSU
Aby Deverka, Jr., G, PSU
Talia Schenck, 5th, F, RU
 
Most Outstanding Player
Ashley Sessa, Sr., F, NU