Northwestern Rip No.1 Maryland Apart in the Fourth: Bent-Cole’s Hat-Trick Seals 4-2 Win in the Game of the Season
For 45 minutes, Maryland looked like they’d survive the trip. Then the fourth quarter happened, and Olivia Bent-Cole happened, and the No. 1 ranking is about to change hands.
Northwestern beat No. 1 Maryland 4-2 at Lakeside Field on Thursday night, scoring three times in the final quarter to hand the Terps their first defeat of 2026. Bent-Cole’s hat-trick did the damage. Maryland led 2-1 at the half and left Evanston wondering how they’d let it go.
The Terps struck first, twice. Freshman Ella Beach, an Illinois kid playing in her home state, opened the scoring in the 12th minute with her third career goal, Francisca Eschoyez and Babs van Hest with the assists. Northwestern hit back before the quarter ended, but Maryland had the better of it: Jordyn Hollamon finished off a penalty corner in the 29th minute, Maci Bradford and Beach assisting, and the Terps went into the break 2-1 up.
That’s worth underlining. Maryland were only the third team all season to score twice against this Northwestern side. The Wildcats’ defence has been the story of their year.
Then the fourth quarter. Three Northwestern goals, the lead gone, and Alyssa Klebasko, who’d been superb all season, beaten three times in 15 minutes. She made all three of her saves in that final frame and it still wasn’t enough. Bent-Cole completed her hat-trick somewhere in that blur, and 4-2 was the final.
Northwestern are now 15-1 overall and, crucially, 6-0 in the Big Ten, alone in first place. Maryland drop to 14-1 and 5-1 in the conference. The Wildcats had already won the last four meetings before Thursday night; make it five in a row over the Terps, and on the night that mattered most.
What it means
Let’s not overcomplicate this. The coaches’ poll had Maryland No. 1 and Northwestern No. 2 going in. The RPI, the ranking the NCAA committee actually cares about, had them flipped. For our money, the RPI had it right all along, and Tuesday’s NFHCA poll should put Northwestern back on top.
It also changes the Big Ten race completely. Northwestern now own the tiebreaker and the outright lead at 6-0. Maryland, who’ve been the story of the college season after missing the NCAA tournament entirely last year, suddenly need help to win the regular-season title. Indiana and Penn State are both 4-1, tied for third, lurking.
The bigger picture hasn’t changed for either side, though. Both are locks for deep November runs. The Big Ten tournament is 5-8 November in Columbus, and the NCAA championship lands in Louisville on 20-22 November. This felt like a Final Four preview. It might have been exactly that.
What’s next
Maryland don’t get a breather. They’re at No. 13 Indiana on Sunday at noon ET (Big Ten Plus), and Indiana are no one’s idea of a soft landing. Northwestern host Rutgers on Sunday at 12pm CT for Senior Day at Lakeside Field, then travel to Penn State on 30 October to close the regular season.
If Thursday night is any guide, circle 5-8 November in Columbus. These two are on a collision course.
Our preview of the showdown: Thursday’s No.1 v No.2 preview, the Big Ten weekly honours, and the Live Centre.
