If you are looking for the definition of dominance in the Big Ten, look no further than the Penn State women's soccer team. The Nittany Lions have four straight Big Ten regular-season titles and have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in every year of the program except for their year of inception in 1994.

The Lions have set the bar in women's soccer for the Big Ten. This year figures to be no different, as the Lions will once again be the hunted. With the returning triumvirate of senior Christie Welsh and juniors Joanna Lohman and Heidi Drummond, the Lions are favored to win their fifth straight regular-season crown.

Several teams will be gunning for the Lions' spot on top and trying to knock them from their perch, a perch that has seen them lose just two conference games in the last four seasons.

Illinois (3-3)

After a third-place finish in the conference last season, and with a new coach, Janet Rayfield, and the emergence of a leader, Tara Hurless, the Illini will look to challenge Penn State for the title.

With the loss of first team All-Big Ten performer Colleen Joyce, the Illini needed someone to step up and fill her shoes. The obvious choice is sophomore Hurless who has scored five goals, including a game-winner, in her first six games.

The Illini have stumbled out of the gate, posting a .500 record in non-conference games, and will need to right the ship as they travel to East Lansing and Ann Arbor this weekend.

Indiana (3-2)

The Hoosiers are starting to come together at the right time.

Indiana has posted back-to-back shutouts to close out the non-conference schedule, and first-year coach Mick Lyon is pleased with his goaltending situation.

"[Shauna Daugherty] is doing a super job, and Kristin [Pimlott] has played well, too," Lyon said. "They have done a great job with the 90 percent of soccer that is routine ... They have done a good job at the other 10 percent in the past few games."

Lyon's new philosophy has begun to catch on in the Hoosiers' locker room.

Junior Shelly Gruszka has had an increased role in the offense, in Lyon's system. Last year, Gruszka scored three goals, and in the first five games this year she has four despite battling a preseason injury.

Iowa (4-1)

Three-time first team All-Big Ten selection Sarah Lynch will be key for the Hawkeyes' success this year. Lynch led Iowa in every offensive category last year.

"She [Lynch] is very important because she is extremely dangerous in and around the goal," Carla Baker said. "She helps the team when she is on the field."

Lynch cannot carry the scoring load entirely by herself, and so far this season she has received some help. Sophomore Katelyn Quinn, who did not play last year, has posted four goals and an assist thus far.

Iowa has started strong by winning all its non-conference games except a 2-1 defeat at the hands of No. 22 Boston College, who tied Penn State this weekend.

No. 14 Michigan (5-1)

The Wolverines lost only three players from last season's team, which finished a half game out of a Big Ten Championship.

In order to overthrow Penn State, Michigan will need another strong season from All-Big Ten performers Abby Crumpton and Suzie Grech. Crumpton scored 13 goals and had four assists last year and Michigan coach Debbie Rademacher has even higher expectations for her this season.

"She's our senior captain and is our leader," she said. "After a great summer at the Nordic Cup, I expect her play to rise even higher."

Grech has allowed four goals in 404 minutes in the net, and has posted a record of 4-1 with a shutout.

The Wolverines' only loss of the season came this weekend, 1-0, to Georgia. The golden goal was scored on a rebound that deflected off the hands of Grech.

Michigan State (4-1)

Stacey Heller has given up one goal in 420 minutes, but that was enough to give her a loss. In the 90th minute against Dayton, the Flyers scored the only goal of the game when a Dayton player headed a ball past Heller.

Michigan State upset No. 19 Kentucky last weekend, 3-0.

"This is a big win for our program," said MSU head coach Tom Saxton. "Winning breeds winning and this should give us confidence as we go through the season, especially as we start the Big Ten season next week."

The Spartans open conference play at home this weekend, against Iowa and Illinois.