Big Ten title up for grabs as IU welcomes Penn State

As coach Amy Robertson and the No. 9 IU field hockey team prepare for the final two home games of the season, they find themselves in a position they have never been in before -- entering the final weekend of the season with a chance to win a Big Ten title. \nThe 13-2 Hoosiers welcome No. 6 Penn State at 3 p.m. today. The Nittany Lions are unbeaten in conference play, while the Hoosiers are 4-1 in the Big Ten. An IU victory would clinch a share of the Big Ten regular season title with Penn State and guarantee the Hoosiers the top seed in the season-ending conference tournament. Both would be firsts for the Hoosier field hockey program. \n"This is obviously a huge game," Robertson said. "We're playing for a championship, but we feel like we have nothing to lose considering where we've come from. It doesn't get any better than this."\nTo clinch the championship, the Hoosiers will have to defeat the 16-1 Nittany Lions for the first time in their history and snap Penn State's 16-game winning streak in the process. The Nittany Lions' potent offense, led by sophomore Shaun Banta, has outscored opponents 63-12 during the winning streak. In addition, goalkeeper Megan Akstin has a goals against average of 0.72 on the season. Despite the impressive numbers, Robertson said she believes the Hoosiers match up well with the Lions. \n"Penn State is a lot like us really," Robertson said. "They're a very opportunistic and talented team, which is true of us as well. We have a lot of players from Pennsylvania on our team too, and that might provide a little extra incentive out there."\nWhile the Hoosiers have never been in the position to be playing for a championship, senior Kayla Bashore said the Hoosiers aren't feeling the effects of any extra pressure. \n"We know what we want, so we're not going to put ourselves in a mentality that we can't do it," Bashore said. "This is the biggest game of the year, and we're going to be ready."\nFollowing Friday's final Big Ten game of the season, the Hoosiers welcome the 8-9 Miami University (Ohio) to Mellencamp Pavilion, where the Hoosiers are 7-0 this season, for the final home game. The game is scheduled for 12 p.m. Sunday, and Senior Day festivities will also be conducted. \nFor Bashore, Morgan Albini, Nikki Orciuch, Mallory Reabold, Lesley Wiler and Ryan Woolsey, it will be their final home game as Hoosiers. \n"As the season winds down, it's becoming more of a reality that my field hockey career is almost over, but I think that energy will drive all of our seniors this weekend," said Wiler, who along with Albini and Orciuch, holds the IU record for most games played with 72. "We have invested a lot of time in the program, and we really believe in it."\nRobertson said she believes it will be difficult to see a group of seniors she recruited play their final home game. \n"Sunday's game will be emotionally difficult for me," Robertson said. "But I'm so happy to see what this group has accomplished together, and it's about more than what they've done as field hockey players. They have great character, and they're great people. It's been so easy to coach them"