With a seventh straight regular season Big Ten title already in the bag, the No. 3 Penn State women's soccer team is aiming to do something that has not been done since the 2000 season: finish a regular season undefeated in the Big Ten.

At 7 tonight, the Nittany Lions (13-1-1, 9-0-0 Big Ten) will take on No. 12 Ohio State (10-2-3, 6-0-3) at Jeffrey Field, with the winner finishing the Big Ten season undefeated. The last team to do so was the 2000 Penn State squad, which lost to Portland in the NCAA Tournament.

"We've talked about going undefeated in the conference," Penn State coach Paula Wilkins said. "We want to take pride in being able to do it because it's a difficult task to do, especially since every team sort of gears for us in the Big Ten. I'm very proud that our team took that on as a goal."

At practice, the Lions looked very loose and seemed confident that they would attain the goal, and understandably so. They are on a 14-game unbeaten streak, an eight-game winning streak, and a six-game shutout streak.

Forward Tiffany Weimer has a Big Ten-leading 18 goals and has 12 more points (she has 41) than anyone else in the conference. Goalkeeper Erin McLeod leads the conference with a 0.23 goals-against average, and the Lions lead the Big Ten with 11 shutouts, surrendering only five goals on the season.

For once, however, Penn State will be facing another Big Ten team that has been dominating the conference. The Buckeyes are also unbeaten in Big Ten play and are currently on a 13-game unbeaten streak, with six shutouts over that span. Their only losses of the year have come at the hands of No. 4 Portland and No. 15 Washington, who also defeated Penn State back on Aug. 27.

The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in shots, points, assists and goals, and are second to the Lions in goals-against. Midfielders Danielle Dietrich and Lara Dickermann, and forward Lisa Grubb are all in the top 10 in goals and points in the Big Ten, leading a balanced Ohio State attack. Goalkeeper Emily Haynam is second behind McLeod with a 0.59 goals-against average.

"This is one of our biggest tests this season," McLeod said. "It's a very important game for us. I think we just have to do what we have been doing. We've been very successful just being aggressive, staying compact and composed, and avoiding shots at pretty much all cost."

Avoiding shots from the Buckeyes will be a major key in the game. It will be strength versus strength, as the Lions have only been giving up 7.1 shots per game; Ohio State has averaged 21.6. If the Lions wish to finish a perfect 10-0 in the conference, they must continue to play dominant defense and not wait until the second half to bury scoring chances.

Penn State has been predominately a second-half team, scoring just eight of its 36 goals in the first half. The Buckeyes have been equally as good in each half, scoring 15 goals in the first and 20 in the second.

"We've had our opportunities in the first half we just haven't finished them," Wilkins said. "We have to be a little more precise there, and I think we just have to do a good job defensively all over the field against Ohio State. They're a very good team."

Wilkins knows Ohio State is a good measuring stick for the Lions and their readiness for a run at the College Cup.

"I think this is a great test for the Big Ten tournament and the NCAAs," she said. "It will be a great time to evaluate what our strengths and weaknesses are, and I'm excited for the game. I have great respect for Ohio State."