Since 1998, the first of its now seven consecutive Big Ten championships, the Penn State women's soccer team has only lost four conference games.

Only three other conference games have ended in ties. That makes seven games that the Nittany Lions haven't won in regular season conference play. So for Penn State, in the last seven years it has as many Big Ten championships as Big Ten games it hasn't won.

The Lions (13-1-1, 9-0 Big Ten) head into the weekend attempting to sweep their conference for the first time since 2000. With one game remaining, Friday against No. 16 Ohio State (10-2-3, 6-0-3), they have a good chance of accomplishing their goal.

"Getting a sweep would be great," junior forward Tiffany Weimer said. "Only one other team has done it. We've always had a hiccup on the way so it would be good to play well the whole season."

The team Weimer speaks of is the 2000 team. That team went 22-3-1 overall and lost in the NCAA tournament at home to Portland. It was also the year before current head coach Paula Wilkins was hired. Wilkins' team is even better than the 2000 team statistically, but the comparisons are similar. Led by goalkeeper Emily Oleksiuk (.405 goals against average, 15.4 shutouts) and forward Christie Welsh (17 goals) the Lions swept through the conference, outscoring Big Ten teams 20-3.

This season the Lions have followed the same pattern for success. Through nine games in conference play they have outscored opponents 25-1, with Purdue scoring the only goal.

Weimer leads the Big Ten in goals with 18, 13 in conference games, and has scored in every Big Ten contest. She had three goals this weekend, leading her team to the early clinch.

"It feels exciting," she said. "We didn't get our trophy yet or anything, but it feels good to know we'll be getting it again soon."

In goal junior Erin McLeod is sneaking up on some of Oleksiuk's records. She already passed her mark of consecutive shutout minutes and combined with a harassing defense to shutout the last six opponents, also a record.

With a defense that rarely lets shots through, McLeod has only allowed three goals this season in 13 games, and has eight shutouts. The seventh title is McLeod's first, after she transferred from Southern Methodist University.

"We're all happy, but since it's the first time for me it's very exciting," McLeod said.

Penn State hasn't lost in 14 straight games, but to seal what has been a very successful regular season, it will have to take on a team that is just about as hot. The Buckeyes haven't lost in 13 games and are undefeated in the Big Ten.

Though there's no mathematical chance Ohio State can win the conference title, Wilkins is expecting the intense rivalry to continue.

"It's our major focus now," Wilkins said about Ohio State. "The games against Ohio State is always a big rivalry. We would enjoy being one of the only undefeated teams ever here."

Penn State hasn't lost on Jeffrey Field in 35 games and has only lost one Big Ten game there. That loss was back in 1995 against Minnesota. There wouldn't be anything sweeter for the Buckeyes than to ruin a couple of Penn State's streaks.

The 2000 Lions team beat Ohio State 1-0. If this year's team wants to join their company it will need to do the same.