A Big Ten championship is within reach and so is the possibility of a national title.

The No. 6 Penn State field hockey team (12-2, 3-1 Big Ten) moved into a tie for second place in the Big Ten after its 3-1 victory on the road against conference rival Ohio State (5-8, 1-3) on Saturday.

"We played awesome today," midfielder Heather Conroy said. "It was an overall great effort. I would say we're confident but not cocky."

Conroy sparked the Penn State offense right from the start as she scored her 15th goal of the season five minutes into the first half.

The Nittany Lions continued to receive solid play from all positions.

The tandem of midfielder Jill Martz and forward Timarie Legel helped spread the field to allow a quick passing game that kept Ohio State pressured.

Offensively, the field hockey team was able to capitalize on the Ohio State right side of the field, and utilized that lane for the majority of the game.

"We worked on getting the backs in possessing the ball longer," Penn State field hockey coach Char Morett said. "We were turning the ball over carelessly last weekend, so we wanted to hold onto the ball a little longer."

Two more goals off the stick of sophomore Michelle Rigby brought the score to 3-0 in favor of Penn State.

The two goals were Rigby's first of her career.

"I think [Rigby]'s been anxious about scoring, but she forgot about it and just reacted to the play," Morett said.

Her first goal came off a rebound from a penalty corner, with the assist going to the setup duo of Conroy and Martz.

Rigby then netted her second goal with an unassisted goal early in the second half.

With the score 3-0, Ohio State was able to put in a late goal that chipped away at the Lions' lead.

"I think it's almost where we get to a point where we relax and not attack," Morett said. "I think it's more of that we stop attacking. We need to learn to slam the door shut." Penn State has had problems with giving up goals late in the game throughout the entire season.

This is a problem the field hockey team will try to correct this week in practice because the Lions host No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 Old Dominion later in the week.

"We're going to take it one game at a time, but focus on Michigan first," Conroy said. "It's always an advantage playing at home."