First Touch #11: U-M Hits Road for B1G Tournament Opener at Penn State

» Michigan enters the 2018 Big Ten Tournament as the No. 8 seed and will travel to No. 1 seed Penn State on Sunday (Oct. 28) at 1 p.m.
» The Wolverines took a 2-1 setback to the Nittany Lions in their regular-season meeting, Oct. 7 at U-M Soccer Stadium.
» U-M has participated in the Big Ten Tournament 18 times and earned titles in 1997 and 1999.
» The Wolverines hold a winning record in B1G tournament action, going 18-15-4.

THIS WEEK
Sunday, Oct. 28 -- vs. Penn State (State College, Pa.), 1 p.m.
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• Complete Match Notes (PDF)
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After earning the final spot in the 2018 Big Ten Tournament, the University of Michigan women's soccer team will travel to No. 1 seed Penn State in a quarterfinals matchup on Sunday (Oct. 28) at 1 p.m. at Jeffrey Field.

Wolverines at the Big Ten Tournament

In its 25 years in the Big Ten Conference, Michigan women's soccer has appeared in the Big Ten Tournament 18 times, winning the title in 1997 and 1999. The Wolverines missed out on the 2017 tournament and will make their first postseason appearance since the 2016 season when they won one game in the B1G Tournament and made an NCAA Tournament appearance.

U-M Against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament

Michigan is 4-4-0 all-time against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament, with two of its wins against the Nittany Lions coming down to penalty kicks. The Wolverines first met Penn State in the 1994 season, playing to a 1-1 draw before advancing on penalty kicks. Michigan also notched wins over Penn State in 1997 and 1999, defeating the Nittany Lions in the championship match in the 1999. The Wolverines' last victory over the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Tournament was 2005, when they played to a 3-3 double-overtime draw before advancing on penalty kicks, 4-2.

All-Time Series With the Nittany Lions

Michigan has struggled with the Nittany Lions, trailing 4-22-7, in the all-time series against Penn State. The Wolverines have not beaten Penn State since its 1-0 upset in Happy Valley on Oct. 13, 2013, and is U-M's lone win in State College; the Wolverines are 1-7-3 all-time at Jeffrey Field.

How Michigan Got In

In a must-win weekend for the Wolverines, U-M earned a 2-1 victory over Maryland (Oct. 18) before Michigan shut out rival Michigan State, 2-0, on Senior Day (Oct. 21) . Despite the wins, Michigan's fate was not yet clear. Following an Illinois win over Nebraska, the Wolverines needed Northwestern and Iowa to tie in their season finale against one another to guarantee U-M a spot in the tournament. They got just that as the Hawkeyes and Wildcats played to a 1-1 double-overtime draw, locking up Michigan's spot as at least the No. 8 seed.

Who is Hot Heading Into the Postseason?

Sophomores Nicki Hernandez and Sarah Stratigakis had standout matches in the final weekend of the regular season, with Stratigakis scoring a goal and adding two assists while Hernandez scored her eighth goal of the season. Hernandez ranks fourth in Big Ten with 22 points, while her six assists tie for fifth in the conference. Stratigakis has had 17 points this season, making her the second Wolverines to be ranked in the top 10 in the Big Ten Conference.

Martin Steps Up in Senior Season

Senior Reilly Martin has been finding ways to help Michigan win in her final season on the pitch as a Wolverine. She ranks third on the team with 16 points (six goals, four assists) and became just the fourth Wolverine to reach 20 goals and 20 assists in her career as she heads into the postseason with 21 goals and 24 assists.

Next Time Out

If the Wolverines defeat Penn State, Michigan will travel to Westfield, Indiana, for the semifinal round of the Big Ten Tournament (Nov. 2-4).