Field Hockey

Northwestern, Indiana, Iowa Collect Weekly Field Hockey Awards

Sessa (NU), Freeman (IND), Claessens (IOWA) honored

ROSEMONT, lll. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its Field Hockey Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Freshman of the Week awards for games played Sept. 28-Oct. 4.

Offensive Player of the Week
Ashley Sessa, Northwestern
Sr. – F – Schwenksville, Pa. – North Carolina
  • Registered four goals and nine points, helping top-ranked Northwestern improve to 12-0 on the season while extending its win streak to 23 games
  • Recorded her fifth-career hat trick – and fourth for the Wildcats – in Northwestern’s 6-1 win at No. 15 Michigan
  • Notched back-to-back game-winning goals as Northwestern outscored its opponents, 11-1, on the weekend
  • Buried her 55th career goal at NU, moving into fourth place on the school’s all-time list
  • Participates in the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) “It’s Not a Game” roadway safety campaign
Defensive Player of the Week
Lily Freeman, Indiana
So. – B – London, England – Finchley Cathlolic
  • Excelled on both ends of the field for No. 13-ranked Indiana, which swept road matches at Michigan State and Ohio State
  • Provided the game-winning goal in both contests, leading the Hoosiers to their best conference start (4-0) since 2005
  • Played all 120 minutes and anchored a defense that allowed six total shots and one goal on the weekend
  • Is the second-straight Indiana player to be chosen Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
  • Receives a Big Ten weekly award for the first time
Freshman of the Week
Julia Claessens, Iowa
Fr. – G – 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands – Rodenborch College
  • Posted a 1.84 goals-against average and 0.714 save percentage for No. 6-ranked Iowa in road wins over Michigan and Michigan State
  • Made six saves in a 2-1 overtime win versus the 15th-ranked Wolverines
  • Backstopped Iowa to its fifth come-from-behind win of the season with a 4-3 decision at Michigan State
  • Has won four consecutive starts in goal
  • Earns her second-straight Big Ten Freshman of the Week certificate
 
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