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This year the Buckeyes host the Lions on Oct. 14. OSU has one of the nation's top goal scorers in Lara Dickenmann.
In the Lions' most recent trip to Columbus, Ohio, they came out on the short end of a 3-2 score in the finals of said tournament, as Ohio State hosted the three-round event. If revenge worked against an out-of-conference team like Maryland, this should be no different.
The Lions also have to be aware of the "Tour de Michigan."
The trip to Michigan and Michigan State close out the nonconference schedule and a four-game road trip.
The bumps, grinds and fatigue may catch up with them as they split the series.
Northwestern
Last year: 10-8-2, 5-4-1 Big Ten, t-5th
This year: 6-1
Analysis: The Wildcats had the exact opposite plan heading into nonconference play. Northwestern scheduled yawners, except for one against Marquette, to whom they lost to on the road, 2-1. Apparently it's strategy was to gather early season momentum before tackling the Big Ten. The Lions have been tested and prevailed thus far. Experience should show in this Sept. 30 road game. Penn State can't look past Northwestern to its Sunday game against Wisconsin, however.
No. 16 Wisconsin
Last year: 16-6-1, 5-4-1 Big Ten, t-5th
This year: 5-2-1
Analysis: The Badgers seem poised to challenge the Lions, at least on paper.
As the only other ranked team in the conference, Penn State's trip to Madison may be the game that decides whether the Lions win an eighth consecutive Big Ten regular season championship.
Then-No.7 Portland and then-No. 15 BYU have been the Badgers' lone losses.
Illinois
Last year: 16-6-2, 5-3-2 Big Ten, 4th
This year: 4-2-2
Analysis: The winning record is somewhat deceiving. The Fighting Illini's biggest win came Sept. 2 against Nebraska. The 1-0 win over a borderline top 25 team gave them credibility until, they lost 2-1 to Indiana State at home.
Willkins said Illinois has a strong defensive backfield. Although the Lions have had a number of goal scorers, only Krieger has emerged to compliment Weimer.
Should Weimer be marked as she has against a solid defense, another threat may have to emerge by Oct. 9.
Michigan State
Last year: 12-7-1, 3-6-1 Big Ten, 9th
This year: 4-2-3
Analysis: Texas A&M came into East Lansing inside the top five. They left with a 1-0 overtime loss, now holding down the No. 15 spot.
This game will be part of another taxing road weekend.
After going to Ann Arbor on a Friday, they travel to Spartan territory for a Sunday afternoon game.
The third game in that four-game road trip to close conference play, the Lions may get up just so they can go home again.
MSU, meanwhile, could bolster its national credibility with an upset on its home field.
It could happen, as the Lions may just want to get the conference schedule over with and return to Jeffrey field for a game against Navy to close out the regular season.
Michigan
Last year: 11-9-2, 6-3-1 Big Ten, 3rd
This year: 3-2-2
Analysis: Another big game is Michigan at Michigan on Oct. 21. Ann Arbor hosts the Big Ten Tournament. A win here bodes well for the postseason. It's the third stop on that road trip, and the U of M always plays tough.
The Wolverines have played well at home, playing then-No. 6 Texas A&M to a tie.
In their toughest game to date, they dropped a 3-0 game on the road to then-No. 5 Notre Dame.
Wilkins believes Michigan has one of best forward tandoms in the conference.
"Michigan is dynamic offensively with [Melissa] Dobbyn up front along with Therese Heaton," Wilkins said.
"They've done well against Texas and Texas A&M. Along with Michigan State they've both done quite well against very good competition, and so they're going to be well organized."
Ohio State
Last year: 19-4-3, 6-1-3 Big Ten, 2nd
This year: 3-2-2
Analysis: With wins against Xavier, Northeastern and Kent State, the Buckeyes have not matched the Lions in terms of strength of schedule or quality wins.
Their offense has been relatively quiet, scoring a high of three goals against Xavier Aug. 28.
If Dickenmann gets hot however, they could very well resemble the team that finished second in the Big Ten last year.
Wilkins is cautious that may happen, as the sophomore helped the Bucks to a second place conference finish, their lone loss coming to Penn State.
"Ohio State has Dickenmann. She is probably one of the best players in college soccer and can create stuff," Wilkins said. "She'll be a problem."
Indiana
Last year: 9-7-3, 3-5-2 Big Ten, t-7th
This year: 4-3-1
Analysis: The Hoosiers lost to USC 6-0. The Lions defeated the Women of Troy 3-1. 'Nuff said. Indiana comes to the Valley at 7 p.m. to open the Big Ten schedule. The Lions should start off 1-0 in the conference.
Purdue
Last year: 10-10, 4-6 Big Ten, t-7th
This year: 4-4
Analysis: The Boilermakers, despite a slow start against some stiff competition, have rattled off three wins in a row against Butler, Nebraska and Kansas. They've won all their games at West Lafayette and a 1-0 loss to Cal Poly showed they can play with just about anybody, at least at home. The problem is they come to Happy Valley this Sunday. Wilkins says that Purdue has two mains threats. The Boilers are very good in the air and they come out of restarts extremely well. Moscato however, is a tall midfielder, and Weimer boasts that Krieger can jump higher than anybody at this level. Penn State should sweep this weekend and reach the double digit win total without a problem.
Minnesota
Last year: 8-10, 2-8 Big Ten, 10th
This year: 3-3-2
Analysis: The Golden Gophers get the Lions at home, but that's the only thing they have going for them, and the value in that is debatable. They played South Dakota at home and played to a scoreless tie. Offensively, they just haven't gotten it done, and against PSU's back four it will only get more difficult.
Iowa
Last year: 2-14-2, 0-9-1 Big Ten, 11th
This year: 1-5-2
Analysis: Halfway to last year's win total isn't a bad thing for most teams this point in the season. For Iowa, it means they have one win.
If Penn State goes to Iowa City on Oct. 9 and loses, it may be one of the biggest upsets in women's soccer history, as the Lions should still be undefeated.
Andrew Staub's prediction
Barring a massive collapse, Penn State will win its eighth straight Big Ten title, and should do so in style. In the Big Ten, the only teams that should pose a real threat are Ohio State and Michigan on the road. Penn State has proved that it can win in difficult road conditions though, beating both Southern California and then-No. 3 UCLA on the road in the same weekend.
Penn State has three of the best athletes in the country in Jacobs, McLeod and Weimer.
Those three coupled with a strong supporting cast and Wilkins, one of the nation's best coaches, should be enough to give the Lions a strong regular season and a conference title.
Prediction: Penn State finishes 18-1-0 in the regular season, losing to Michigan in the second leg of a tough four-game October road trip, but nevertheless will win an eighth consecutive Big Ten regular season championship.
Chris Weeden's prediction
Penn State will go 17-2 and win the Big Ten again. An 11-0 record to start the season will end against Wisconsin.
Even though the Lions should win this game on paper, the travel from Northwestern on Friday to Wisconsin on Sunday will be too much.
The "Tour de Michigan" will be tough, so look for them to split the series, probably falling in the Michigan State game. It's too hard to go undefeated in soccer, unless you're North Carolina. There are just too many games.
The potential letdown game comes against Navy.
For some reason, this non-conference home game closes out the regular season.
The Lions may find it too easy to look ahead to the Big Ten tournament since essentially nothing will be at stake, barring that they're not still undefeated.
R E L A T E D S T O R I E S
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