It is the only team left in all of Div. I-A that has not suffered a loss.

Not only that, but it has outscored its non-conference opponents 28-3.

But this is only the start on the road to a conference championship.

The No. 6 Penn State field hockey team has set the precedent for a successful season as this week marks the opening of Big Ten competition.

Rounding up the three final teams the Nittany Lions will face are Ohio State, Indiana, and Northwestern.

Ohio State

Last year's Big Ten field hockey champions, the No. 19 Ohio State Buckeyes are clearly one of the favorites to contend for this year's crown.

The Buckeyes have broken even in their first eight games.

They have 13 players from last year's successful season returning, but as their record indicates, have struggled in the few games they have played.

Five of those returning players are on offense, so Ohio State will establish some depth in the forward and midfield positions.

They already have four losses, compared to five losses all of last season.

"We are going to run with the momentum from last year and create our own identity along the way this year," said Ohio State field hockey coach Anne Wilkinson.

And run they will, as the Buckeyes are one of the Big Ten's top conditioned teams.

They utilize a balanced attack and defense along with elite conditioning of their players.

The team is led by Lucy Clayton and Vanessa Immordino, both second-team All-Americans last season.

In addition, Immordino finished No. 11 in the nation for goals scored last year.

Northwestern

One way to gauge a team's strengths and weaknesses is to look at how
they faired in their non-conference schedule.

Like the Buckeyes, the Wildcats finished their first eight games with a record of 4-4, which looks lukewarm at best.

But only on the surface.

Three of their losses were against ranked teams, including No. 1 Maryland, whom they only lost to 3-1.

Other close losses to ranked teams include No. 18 Virginia and No. 17 Boston College, both by margins of one goal.

Clearly, the Wildcats are not afraid to get in the mix with top-tier powerhouse field hockey teams, including Penn State.

The purple and white's gameplay is derived from its defense.

They rely on solid and aggressive defensive schemes to wear down the opposition's midfielders and forwards, only to quickly retaliate with an offensive strike.

This setup for Northwestern is led by Suzi Sutton, the team's only All-Big Ten player, who returns for her junior season.

Sutton's role as the playmaker is will present opposing teams with the task of trying to contain one of the Big Ten's most versatile players.

Indiana

The field hockey program at Indiana is still in its infancy.

Removed from the school's athletics back in 1982, field hockey was reintroduced for its inaugural season in 2000.

Indiana has been rebuilding and recruiting ever since in hopes of returning to the conference spotlight.

So far this season, coming off their non-conference games, the Hoosiers are a meager 2-5.

Their sole wins came against Miami (Ohio) and Villanova.

The Hoosiers will look to Kayla Bashore for scoring, this year's leader in goals.

One aspect of the team that the Hoosiers hope to capitalize on is the depth on the bench.

Two players, Erica Nilsson and Kimberly Nash have both made their presence known by coming off the bench and scoring two goals apiece thus far.