The uphill battle for a ninth straight Big Ten title will come down to the final weekend for the Penn State women's soccer team.

In University Park for two more home games against Wisconsin and Northwestern, the Lions have destiny in their hands as they try to hold their recently acquired lead in the conference standings.

The Lions will host Wisconsin today at 5 p.m. and Northwestern at noon Sunday.

Coming off four straight shutouts, the team is riding a dominant defensive streak that gives it every opportunity to finish the regular season how the program is accustomed to --by winning a Big Ten soccer crown.

The Badgers will come into Happy Valley on Friday with a two game losing streak and a Big Ten record of 3-4-1.

Even with Wisconsin's recent struggles and no chance at a Big Ten regular season title, the Lions still know that the Badgers are playing tough.

"I know they are very athletic and they will be very organized," Penn State head coach Paula Wilkins said. "[Wisconsin's head coach] Dean Deurst is one of the best coaches in the Big Ten. It is going to be a difficult game for us because they will be fighting for position in the Big Ten tournament, so they have something to play for."

While it's clear that the final regular season games for Wisconsin mean a lot for the team, it's uncertain how it will be able to capitalize against a Penn State defense that isn't allowing opponents many opportunities.

"We have to go in with the mindset that we have to get three points and be excited about that," Deurst said. "The game of soccer is such a game of opportunities, and we know that we are going to have to eliminate the number of opportunities that we give Penn State and make the most of the ones that we'll have."

Those chances are will be difficult to come by today. The Lions' back line and their freshman goalie Alyssa Naeher have thwarted any sort of opposing attack during the last four games and don't plan on allowing any type of attack this weekend, either.

"We've got to be ready for anything," Naeher said. "We've got a good chance this weekend to take control of the Big Ten and secure that. We need to keep up the consistency that we've had the past four games and keep the ball out of the back of the net."

That mindset will also be crucial on Sunday, as Penn State hosts a Northwestern team that recently beat former Big Ten leader Indiana.

While Penn State's favorite team in the conference, other than itself, may be the Wildcats after they knocked off Indiana. There won't be too much love, as a victory against Northwestern may secure the Big Ten title.

While Wisconsin and Northwestern each have their strengths, the approach to handling those two teams will be the same as any other -- mentally focusing on each half.

"We can't control what they are going to do, we can only control what we can do," senior Heather Tomko said.

With a Big Ten regular season title within grasp after a tougher road than most of the previous eight years, the Lions still have the same philosophy that has made them a perennial conference powerhouse.

"We take one game at a time, our mentality is that we don't lose on Jeffrey [Field]," captain Ali Krieger said.

Not losing on Jeffrey Field this weekend will give the Penn State women's soccer team another year to add to the already crowded Big Ten title sign that hangs on Jeffrey Field's sideline.