No. 2 Northwestern is perched at the top of the Big Ten’s regular season mountain once again after clinching a title share against Rutgers. No. 1 Maryland defeated No. 13 Indiana to keep the Terps in the title race, while the rest of the league swapped wins with tournament seeding at stake. Take a look at how it happened. 

Clutch ‘Cats Do It Again: Northwestern Comeback Clinches Title 

For the fourth consecutive season, at least a share of the Big Ten Field Hockey Championship will reside in Evanston after No. 2 Northwestern defeated Rutgers 2-1 on Sunday. The ‘Cats have now won 35 straight regular-season conference games, reached double digits in their Big Ten title count, and secured the No. 1 seed along with a coveted bye in the 2026 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament Presented by Allstate. 

The reigning national champions trailed 1-0 after a Talia Schenck score gave the Scarlet Knights an early lead, but first-year Kiera Sack responded before the half with a diving shot that found the back of the cage. 

Kiera Sack nets the equalizer ?? She scores her second goal of the season for @NUFHCats ?? https://t.co/TtcicWwycC

— Big Ten Field Hockey (@B1GFieldHockey) October 25, 2026

The teams combined for four shots in the third quarter, but both defenses held the line to send the match to the final period knotted 1-1. With the clock winding down in the fourth quarter, Northwestern’s star senior trio did what it does best. Ashley Sessa slung a corner pass to Olivia Bent-Cole, who set up Ilse Tromp to blast the game-winner to the back of the cage. 

Ilse Tromp scores the game-winning goal in No. 2 @NUFHCats’s 2-1 victory vs. Rutgers https://t.co/c9I5LL0rvB

— Big Ten Field Hockey (@B1GFieldHockey) October 25, 2026

The Wildcats’ iconic senior class has ended each of its regular seasons with a Big Ten trophy raise. 

“I think Rutgers gave us everything we could handle,” head coach Tracey Fuchs said. “I’m really proud of the way we just kept fighting and fighting, and then finally Ilse put one home.” Read more from Northwestern. 

Now on a seven-game conference win streak, the ‘Cats face No. 19 Penn State and will clinch the title outright if they win. Full preview of the clash to come on Friday. 

Teams Trade Wins Ahead of Big Ten Tournament 

Each team has one last chance to earn points and secure a higher seed in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday. Alongside Northwestern, a few others made headway over the weekend. 

• No. 1 Maryland defeated No. 13 Indiana 1-0  to preserve its shot at a share of the Big Ten title. Babs van Hest scored her ninth goal of the season to secure the win. 

• Before falling to the Wildcats, Rutgers surprised No. 6 Iowa in a 4-3 overtime thriller. The Scarlet Knights fended off a furious Hawkeye comeback, sealed by Frederique Vernooij’s game-winner. 

• No. 19 Penn State edged the Hoosiers in a 1-0 defensive battle behind goalie Aby Deverka’s seventh shutout of the season. The Nittany Lions’ eight consecutive wins marked PSU’s longest win streak since 2013. 

• Iowa bounced back against Penn State on Sunday, halting the red-hot squad in a 1-0 victory of its own. Dionne van Aalsum made the difference for the Hawkeyes in the third quarter with her 17th goal of the season. 

Check out the league standings heading into the final matchups — the first six berths into the tournament have been clinched, but Michigan and Ohio State will go head-to-head for the final spot on Friday.