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Northwestern Wildcats field hockey head coach Tracey Fuchs walks off the court during a timeout of the second half of a menâs basketball game between Northwestern and Oregon at Welsh-Ryan arena in Evanston, Illinois, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Welcome back to the NUFH Notebook! This week, we’re taking a deeper dive into the newest additions to Tracey Fuchs’ squad. 2026 will prove to be a pivotal year for the ‘Cats, with massive turnover on the horizon. In order to keep the “win now” window open, they’ll need to develop talent from the bottom up.
These are the seven names to keep an eye on.
Jessica Freedman | So. | Perth, Australia
Freedman is one piece that will seek to fill the massive void that two-time Honda Sport Award winner Maddie Zimmer leaves after her departure. She brings years of U18 and U21 national team experience to Northwestern.
Freedman also represented the state of Western Australia during her high school years, one of her best performances came at the 2023 Australia U18 Championships, where she scored a brace in pool play after recording a hat trick in the U21 bronze medal game just two months earlier.
Freedman finds herself part of a deep midfield group in preparation for the fall and is one of five newcomers looking to break in alongside returning starters Laura Salamanca and Emilie Kirschner. However, her advantage is her strong resume at one of the highest levels of field hockey on the planet.
Kiera Sack | Fy. | Havertown, Pennsylvania
Sack had an extremely decorated career at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, finishing it as a two-time All-American and two-time PAISAA state champ. Notre Dame was a top-5 national squad throughout her four years of high school, due in large part to her production on the attack that earned her a place in Max Field Hockey’s Top 50 Players List on the class of 2026. She spent the past year on the U.S. Junior Women’s National Team.
Caroline Kotz | Fy. | Winnetka, Illinois
Kotz grew herself into a dynamic midfielder on both sides of the ball at Loyola Academy. She made herself a staple on the varsity squad for her ability to disrupt offenses, averaging just under 14 defensive takeaways per game in her underclassman years. During that stretch, her vision grew tremendously, going from eight assists in her freshman year to 14 in her sophomore campaign.
By her senior year, she’d grown the confidence to take control of the offense and ended with 21 goals and 11 assists that year while totaling 328 takeaways. Her role at NU could go down two different paths: to add depth to a dynamic attack that features Ashley Sessa and Olivia Bent-Cole, or to help the defense disrupt the opposing attack in the wake of Maja Zivojnovic’s departure.
Anna Arnold | Fy. | Bethesda, Maryland
Speaking of offensive depth, that’s exactly what Arnold brings to Northwestern as a midfielder with experience as a forward at St. John’s College High School. She broke out as a sophomore in that role with a ridiculous 32 goals on the season to lead her conference in scoring. By her senior year, she was named WCAC Player of the Year as she transitioned to becoming a full-time midfielder, where she made her mark for the U18 U.S. Women’s National Team this past year.
Although playing time may be sparse for her in her first-year season, her sophomore campaign could be when she emerges as a starter once NU would theoretically be in search of a new offensive spark.
Montgomery Ferguson | Fy. | Houston, Texas
Like many others, Ferguson was dominant throughout her high school years. She was the only St. John’s freshman to start the Texas State 4A Championship game (which she helped her squad win) en route to earning an invite to USA Field Hockey’s U16 Junior National Team selection camp. She became a staple in the top-50 of her class (per Max Field Hockey) and helped St. John’s repeat as state champions in her junior season. She may be the most intriguing midfielder in the room, as her poise makes her a viable option for NU to rely on in the fall.
Eleanor Evarts | Fy. | Austin, Texas
Evarts earned her stripes at St. Stephens Episcopal by grinding her way up the ladder as a gritty back who reflects the blue-collar identity of the Lone Star State. She was named 9th Grade Female Athlete of the Year and later won the school-wide honor after her junior campaign. After serving as a team captain, she brings a new energy to the Wildcats that reflects players of years past like Annabel Skubisz and Lauren Wadas.
Bree Moffett | Fy. | Townsend, Del.
Moffett’s career at Smyrna signals her willingness to attack the game. Her 45 goal, 13 assist effort her junior year earned her Division 1 Player of the Year honors — the first of two during her career. As an offensive midfielder, Moffett has the toolkit to fill the shoes Zimmer has left with time to develop her skillset. She arrives as one of the most sought after recruits in the class of 2026 and it wouldn’t be surprising if she etches her name into the starting lineup in due time.
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