Field Hockey

Northwestern, Rutgers, Maryland Take Home Field Hockey Honors

Bent-Cole (NU), Nicholls (RU), Beach (MD) receive penultimate weekly awards

ROSEMONT, lll. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Field Hockey Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Freshman of the Week awards winners for matches played Oct. 19-25.
 
Offensive Player of the Week
Olivia Bent-Cole, Northwestern
Sr. – F – Philadelphia, Pa. – Camden Catholic
  • Logged first career hat trick as No. 2-ranked Northwestern knocked off No. 1 Maryland, 4-2, Thursday evening in Evanston, Ill.
  • Finished the weekend with seven points, accumulating three goals and an assist
  • Assisted on the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Rutgers, giving Northwestern a share of the Big Ten Championship
  • Has matched a career-best season with 25 points with her 1.67 points per game average ranking fifth among conference players
  • The 2025 All-Big Ten First Team selection earns her first offensive player award
Defensive Player of the Week
Emily Nicholls, Rutgers
Jr. – G – Haddon Heights, N.J. – Camden Catholic
  • Backstopped Rutgers to a 4-3 overtime win at No. 6 Iowa on Friday
  • Her 16 saves were the most in the Big Ten since 2024 and the highest total for a Rutgers goalkeeper since at least 2012
  • Came up with a save on an Iowa penalty stroke in overtime to keep the game tied
  • Held No. 2 Northwestern to below its season scoring average in a 2-1 road loss to the Wildcats
  • Secures her second career defensive player award, having previously been recognized on Sept. 2, 2025
Freshman of the Week
Ella Beach, Maryland
Fr. – M – Northbrook, Ill. – Glenbrook
  • Returning to her home state, scored Maryland’s first goal and assist on another in a 4-2 loss to No. 2 Northwestern
  • Played the full 60 minutes against Northwestern and was on the field for 55 minutes in Maryland’s 1-0 win at No. 13 Indiana
  • The win at Indiana kept Maryland’s hope alive for a share of the conference title
  • Has started every game for the top-ranked Terrapins, helping the squad compile a 15-1 record
  • Becomes third different Maryland freshman honored with the rookie award this year
 
2026 Big Ten Field Hockey Weekly Awards
Aug. 31
O: Fréderique van Cleef, 5th, F, IOWA
O: Olivia Fraticelli, Sr., F, RU
D: Eva Bernardy, Jr., B, MICH
F: Reine van Hoof, Fr., F, IOWA
 
Sept. 8
O: Fréderique van Cleef, 5th, F, IOWA
O: Sienna Golden, Jr., F, OSU
D: Aby Deverka, Jr., G, PSU
F: Avery Alleva, Fr., G, OSU
 
Sept. 14
O: Dionne van Aalsum, Sr., M, IOWA
D: Juliana Boon, Jr., G, NU
F: Kendall Gilmore, Fr., M, MD

Sept. 21
O: Ashley Sessa, Sr., F, NU
D: Alyssa Klebasko, Sr., G, MD
F: Lauren Iaccio, Fr., B, RU
 
Sept. 28
O: Fréderique van Cleef, 5th, F, IOWA
D: Sadie Canelli, Jr., G, IND
D: Ilse Tromp, Sr., B/M, NU
F: Julia Claessens, Fr., G, IOWA
 
Oct. 5
O: Ashley Sessa, Sr., F, NU
D: Lily Freeman, So., B, IND
F: Julia Claessens, Fr., G, IOWA
 
Oct. 12
O: Maci Bradford, Sr., F, MD
D: Camryn Standish, Gr., B, PSU
F: Eden Doucelin, Fr., B, RU
 
Oct. 19
O: Ella Gaitan, Jr., F, PSU
D: Ilse Tromp, Sr., B/M, NU
D: Anna Cogdell, Jr., B/M, RU
F: Aida Ierubino, Fr., F, MD
 
Oct. 26
O: Olivia Bent-Cole, Sr., F, NU
D: Emily Nicholls, Jr., G, RU
F: Ella Beach, Fr., M, MD