The postseason tournament kicks off today with a Big Ten championship and automatic NCAA tournament bid at stake. Regular season records are thrown out the window with all eight teams fighting for the same prize. Penn State is the clear favorite but in a single game elimination tournament anything can happen.
“Penn State seems to find a way to get it done,” Wisconsin head coach Dean Duerst said. “They finish their opportunities and that’s why they are so tough to defeat.”
The postseason gets underway in East Lansing, Michigan with the seventh-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes facing the second-seeded Michigan Wolverines. The Wolverines bring with them one of the best goal scorers in the conference in Abby Crumpton. Crumpton is a burner and capable of scoring from anywhere and the Buckeyes will need to contain her if they are to pull off the upset. Game time is scheduled for 10 a.m.
The second opening-round match features two, fierce in-state rivals as the Purdue Boilermakers clash with the Indiana Hoosiers. The Hoosiers bring a very balanced attack with three players in double figures in points. The Boilermakers have one of the best goalies in the country in Jocelyn Cavalier, whose goals against average is less than one per game. Expect a low-scoring, hard-fought battle in this first-round game.
The Nittany Lions will begin the night session in what should be the biggest mismatch of the tournament. The Illinois Fighting Illini snuck into the tournament grabbing the eighth spot with a win in the final regular-season game of the year. The Nittany Lions are stacked with conference player of the year Christie Welsh and are looking to win the tournament for the third straight year. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
In the final game of the first round the fourth-seeded Badgers will take on the tournament host, the Michigan State Spartans. The Badgers defeated the Spartans 3-1 earlier in the season in convincing fashion. However, the Spartans have been hot lately, losing only one game in their previous six matches. This is a tough spot for UW, as they will play in what essentially is the only true road game of the tournament. Senior goalkeeper Kelly Conway must continue her stellar play and forward Jenny Kundert must carry the offense for the Badgers to advance to the second round.
The winner of Michigan/Ohio State will play the winner of the Purdue/Indiana game in the first semifinal game Friday. In the bottom half of the bracket the Penn State/Illinois winner will play the Wisconsin/Michigan State winner in the second semifinal game.
The tournament will conclude Sunday afternoon; the championship game starts at 1 p.m.
On paper, and based on their experience, Penn State should come out on top, but crazy things can happen in the Big Ten tournament.
“They’re the best team in the conference,” Duerst commented. “But we all know on any given day a team can be beat no matter how good they are.”