EVANSTON, Ill. - Ahead of their 2025 season opener, six Northwestern field hockey student-athletes have been named to preseason watch lists, noting top early contenders for future accolades.
Three 'Cats were tabbed for the Big Ten Players to Watch List. Juniors Ashley Sessa and Ilse Tromp and graduate student Maddie Zimmer represent Northwestern on the list, and were all 2024 All-Big Ten First Team honorees.
The 27-member Watch List features three Big Ten award winners from last season including Northwestern's Zimmer (Player of the Year) and Sessa (Offensive Player of the Year), as well as returning NFHCA All-American Tromp.
The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) also announced its 2025 Division I Watchlist. "This list is intended to showcase those field hockey student-athletes with the strongest potential for consideration to the current year's NFHCA All-Region and All-American teams," according to the NFHCA.
Greta Hinke, Laura Salamanca, Grace Schulze, Ashley Sessa, Ilse Tromp and Maddie Zimmer were tabbed for the list. Each Wildcat became eligible by being previously recognized for their outstanding field hockey abilities within the past two years.
Three 'Cats were tabbed for the Big Ten Players to Watch List. Juniors Ashley Sessa and Ilse Tromp and graduate student Maddie Zimmer represent Northwestern on the list, and were all 2024 All-Big Ten First Team honorees.
The 27-member Watch List features three Big Ten award winners from last season including Northwestern's Zimmer (Player of the Year) and Sessa (Offensive Player of the Year), as well as returning NFHCA All-American Tromp.
Watch out for these 'Cats ??
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) August 27, 2025
>> Sessa, Zimmer, Tromp on the @B1GFieldHockey Players to Watch list pic.twitter.com/8CQjjUy1Ls
The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) also announced its 2025 Division I Watchlist. "This list is intended to showcase those field hockey student-athletes with the strongest potential for consideration to the current year's NFHCA All-Region and All-American teams," according to the NFHCA.
Greta Hinke, Laura Salamanca, Grace Schulze, Ashley Sessa, Ilse Tromp and Maddie Zimmer were tabbed for the list. Each Wildcat became eligible by being previously recognized for their outstanding field hockey abilities within the past two years.
?? @NFHCA Watchlist has arrived
— Northwestern Field Hockey (@NUFHCats) August 28, 2025
>> Hinke, Salamanca, Schulze, Sessa, Tromp and Zimmer tabbed as players to watch ?? pic.twitter.com/uoweXbzcHl