In any end of the season do-or-die, winner-take-all, don't-quit-until-the-final-buzzer-sounds, kind of tournament, one can expect to see individuals stepping up everywhere to help their team pull of the big win, or clinch the exciting upset.

At the Big Ten field hockey tournament, each team boasts their own "go to" player, who they hope will perform in the clutch and help their team get one step closer to Big Ten glory.

The following is a breakdown of the impact players to watch in this weekend's Big Ten field hockey tournament.

April Fronzoni, No. 1 Michigan

The Wolverines clawed their way through the Big Ten, leaving only one blemish on their way to a 5-1 record and a share of the regular season title. All season they relied on one of the leagues biggest playmakers in senior tri-captain April Fronzoni. Through 19 games she managed to find the back of the goal cage 18 times while hooking up her teammates for goals six times. Fronzoni is last season's Big Ten offensive player and athlete of the year and will be the main focus of her opponent's defensive schemes in the tournament.

Annebet Beerman, Veerly Goudswaard, and Alexandra Kyser, No. 2 Michigan State

The Spartans are at the top of the Big Ten once again this year were tied, with their intrastate rival comprising an impressive 5-1 Big Ten record. Unfortunately for the Spartans, their lone loss came at the hands of the Wolverines leaving them the second seed for the tournament. Unlike the Wolverines, the Spartans offensive is a triple threat. Annebet Beerman, Veerly Goudswaard, and Alexandra Kyser have combined for 42 goals in 17 games this season. The trio will be a menace for goalkeepers and defenses alike.

Vanessa Immordino and Lucy Clayton, No. 3 Ohio State

The Buckeyes come into the tournament with a 4-2 Big Ten record, but hold a big victory over Michigan. If Ohio State hopes to get another hack at the Wolverines they will need two big games from superstars Vanessa Immordino and Lucy Clayton. Immordino leads the conference with 21 goals and Clayton complimented her efforts with 15 goals in 16 games. The Buckeyes will need Immordino to continue to perform and will look to Clayton for some late game heroics.

Heather Conroy, Timarie Legel, and Annie Zinkavich, No. 4 Penn State

The Nittany Lions struggled through an up and down season and finished with a 3-3 record. The pressure will be on seniors Heather Conroy -- 12 goals -- and Timarie Legel -- 14 goals/11 assists -- to get the Lions past an aggressive Iowa team which defeated them 1-0 earlier this season, in the first round. Goalkeeper Annie Zinkavich -- leads the Big Ten with 108 saves in 20 games and six shutout victories -- will need to be on her 'A' game if the Lions hope to take on Michigan.

If the Lions make the second round, Penn State field hockey coach Char Morett will not be on the sidelines. She will miss the game due to a death in the family.

Barb Weinberg and Pattie Gillern, No. 5 Iowa

The Hawkeyes late season slide left them with a 2-4 Big Ten record. Their biggest win came against Penn State back in September, but a lot has changed for Iowa in two months. The Hawkeyes will depend on their stalwart goalkeeper, Barb Weinberg. She has 99 saves in 18 games and is tied with Zinkavich with six shutouts. Pattie Gillern leads the team with 15 goals.

Kelly Augustine, No. 6 Northwestern

The Wildcats come into the tournament for the second year in a row at No. 6. They will need Candice Cooper to continue her hot streak if they have any hope of derailing the Buckeyes. Goalkeeper Kelly Augustine has been consistent in the net all season.

Molly Pulkrabek, No. 7 Indiana

The Hoosiers only managed one Big Ten victory this year -- a 3-2 double overtime win over Iowa -- but they have a solid goalkeeper in Molly Pulkrabek. She notched three shutouts in 15 games this season, and almost 60 saves. The tournament begins this Friday.

The tournament starts Friday when Michigan State takes on Indiana at 10 AM.