Big Ten tourney begins with IU No. 2 seed

The 14-3 IU field hockey team opens play in the Big Ten field hockey tournament today at Iowa as the Hoosiers look to extend their dream year into the postseason. \nIU enters the tournament with its highest seeding ever, No. 2, earned by a 4-2 conference record. The Hoosiers will play the first game of the tournament at 10 a.m. against No. 7 seed Northwestern. The Hoosiers defeated the Wildcats 3-1 Oct. 8 in their only matchup of the season. \nWith a high seeding and a deep roster that recently welcomed back injured senior midfielder Ryan Woolsey, the Hoosiers are in a position to do something they've never done in five previous trips to the Big Ten tournament: advance to the second round.\n"We're excited about our seeding, and we're looking forward to every game," said senior Morgan Albini. "Our level of confidence is much higher than in previous years entering the tournament."\nAdding to the Hoosiers' confidence is the fact they have defeated four of the six opposing teams in the tournament and lost in overtime to the other two teams. \n"We're so much more capable than in the past," said senior Lesley Wiler. "Knowing that we can play at the highest level of field hockey is a real boost of confidence." \nAlthough the Hoosiers defeated Northwestern this season and the winner of No. 3 seed Ohio State and No. 6 seed Michigan State lurks in the second round, coach Amy Robertson said IU isn't looking past the Wildcats.\n"I think Northwestern was one of the better teams we faced all year," Robertson said. "We just have to prepare for one team at a time and take it one game at a time. If you don't do that, you leave yourself vulnerable to going home early."\nShould the Hoosiers defeat Northwestern, they will face the winner of the Ohio State/Michigan State match in the semifinal game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The championship game will be televised at 1 p.m. Sunday on College Sports TV.\nWith No. 1 seed Penn State the only team to receive a first round bye, the Hoosiers will have to win three games in three days to earn their first Big Ten championship. Wiler said the arduous task is made easier by the early start time of the team's first round game. \n"With the 10 a.m. start, we will have the most recovery time of any team playing in the first round," Wiler said. "That's a definite advantage because only the strongest and fittest teams will be able to win three games in three days."\nAlthough the Hoosiers narrowly missed out on a share of the regular season Big Ten title after an overtime loss to Penn State, Robertson said winning the Big Ten tournament has been the team's top priority since the beginning of the year.\n"Our goal all along has been to win the Big Ten tournament," Robertson said. "I don't have to inspire or motivate this team, we know what kind of hockey we need to play. We have to focus on playing smart and just go out there and do it"