First-round games
No. 2 Michigan State (18-2, 5-1 Big Ten) vs. No. 7 Indiana (6-12, 1-5)
As last year’s Big Ten champions, Michigan State comes into Columbus with a target drawn on its forehead. This year’s squad has an excellent chance of repeating, riding an eight-game winning streak into the tournament. The Spartans have played near-flawless field hockey this season, led by the high-scoring trio of Annebet Beerman, Judy van Haeringen and freshman Michelle Hyunh-Ba. As for the Hoosiers, they have shown little sign of life in conference play, except for a 3-2 upset of Ohio State on Oct. 5. Indiana’s only hope for victory lies in goalkeeper Molly Pulkrabek, who is head and shoulders above the rest of the Big Ten with 137 saves — or more than eight per game.
The Daily’s pick: Michigan State
No. 3 Penn State (15-3, 4-2) vs. No. 6 Northwestern (6-12, 1-5)
Penn State always gets good results in Big Ten play — as long as it isn’t playing a team from Michigan. The Nittany Lions know they probably will have to deal with one of those two teams if they want to win it all. But first thing’s first: They have to face pesky NU, which stopped all sixteen penalty corners in a 1-0 Penn State overtime win on Oct. 5. The Nittany Lions are led by Heather Conroy, who has cooled down from a spectacular start but still is second in the Big Ten with 16 goals in 17 games. Meanwhile, NU has found its offense and polished its defense just in time for the big dance, recording convincing shutout victories in its last two matches. The Wildcats have one of the Big Ten’s hottest goalkeepers in Kendra Mesa.
The Daily’s pick: Penn State
No. 4 Ohio State (7-9, 2-4) vs. No. 5 Iowa (9-7, 2-4)
In what will be the most tightly contested of the first-round matches, Iowa hopes to exact revenge on Ohio State for a heartbreaking 1-0 double-overtime loss on its home field Oct. 27. The Buckeyes will attempt to make good use of home-field advantage and score a huge victory over dangerous Iowa. Both teams have had their ups and downs this season, with Ohio State claiming the stronger finish. The Buckeyes’ Vanessa Immordino is one of the conference’s best corner hitters and is ninth in the Big Ten with 11 goals. Iowa is led by goalkeeper Barb Weinberg, who is second in the Big Ten with 79 saves and third in shutouts with five. But whoever wins this match won’t be celebrating for long — No. 1 Michigan awaits the winner.
The Daily’s Pick: Ohio State
First-round bye
No. 1 Michigan (17-2, 6-0)
Michigan has outscored its Big Ten opponents this year, 16-2, and has pretty much yawned in each and every one of its games. The only two teams the Wolverines had trouble with were Michigan State and NU, defeating both of them, 1-0. As long as Penn State can knock off NU, all the Wolverines have to worry about is beating the defending-champion Spartans for the title. Any team facing Michigan must deal with April Fronzoni, who leads the Big Ten in goals and points.
The Daily’s pick to win it all: Michigan
