The art of international recruiting: How Northwestern field hockey bolsters its success by searching overseas

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 23: Ilse Tromp #9 of the Northwestern Wildcats reacts after scoring the game-winning goal against the Princeton Tigers during the Division I Women's Field Hockey Championship at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images L eslie LaFronz still remembers her first exposure to international field hockey. LaFronz, a Northwestern alum who played from 1981 to 1984, faced a 1981 San Jose State squad led by a standout player from the Netherlands.

That player, whom LaFronz says was nicknamed “Peaches” and describes as “outstanding,” withdrew after competing just one season. “At the time, our coach Nancy Stevens said, ‘It’s just not right. She’s not going to classes.

She’s just playing field hockey,” LaFronz said. “‘How do you compete against somebody that’s been playing since they’re three, four years old? ” During LaFronz’s time, Northwestern only rostered Americans.

The pool of international NCAA student-athletes was smaller than it is now, and it was more common for players to compete for just one year. They often hailed from countries with more established field hockey scenes than the United States. “We definitely could not do it without our international players.