ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In an impressive display of talent, Northwestern decisively defeated Saint Joseph’s 5-0 to secure the NCAA Division I women’s field hockey championship at Phyllis Ocker Field on Sunday. Maddie Zimmer and Ilse Tromp each contributed significantly, scoring two goals and providing an assist in the first half for the Wildcats.

This victory marks the second championship win for the Wildcats, who entered the tournament as the second seed with an impressive record of 23 wins and 1 loss. Northwestern has reached the championship match in four consecutive seasons, having claimed the title in 2021 against Liberty, and narrowly missing it in the last two seasons against North Carolina.

On the other hand, No. 4 seed Saint Joseph’s advanced to the final for the first time in school history after pulling off a stunning upset over top-seeded North Carolina in the semifinals. The Tar Heels, known for their dominance, have clinched the championship in half of their 22 final appearances.

Northwestern quickly established dominance just six minutes into the first quarter when Zimmer scored the opening goal with an assist from Tromp. Zimmer then helped extend the lead to 2-0 by setting up Olivia Bent-Cole for her eighth goal of the season. In a flurry of late first-quarter action, Tromp scored with just 25 seconds remaining, assisted by Lauren Hunter and Ashley Sessa, putting Northwestern up 3-0.

The Wildcats continued their onslaught in the second half, with Hunter and Sessa providing assists again as Zimmer netted her 10th goal of the season. Just over two minutes later, Tromp scored her 11th goal, with assists from Hunter and Regan Cornelius, sealing a 5-0 lead at the break.

The defensive effort of Annabel Skubisz was also commendable, as she achieved a school record with her 14th shutout of the season. The standout performance from Zimmer and Tromp made them the second pair of players to each score multiple goals in a championship match. Zimmer’s exceptional play earned her the tournament MVP accolade.

This victory stands as the second championship for Northwestern’s coach, Tracey Fuchs, adding to her accolades. With this win, the Wildcats join an exclusive group that includes North Carolina and Old Dominion as the only schools to appear in the championship match for four consecutive years. Overall, six institutions have won multiple titles in the history of the tournament.