UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following a two-goal performance by redshirt senior Emily Ogle and a 4-1 win on the road at Indiana Thursday night, No. 21 Penn State clinched at least a share of the 2018 Big Ten regular season title and pushed its conference record to 8-2. The Blue and White also extended their season-high winning streak to six games.
Despite only allowing six goals in 10 games throughout the Big Ten slate this season, the Nittany Lions' journey to the top has been far from easy. The Big Ten features eight different teams with a winning in-conference record, many of which have represented tough challenges and difficult individual games for the Blue and White.
"I think our margin of error is small because the league has just become very good over the last few years," head coach Erica Dambach said. "I think the coaching is quite good at this point, the quality of player. Top to bottom, I firmly believe that number 14 can beat number one on any given day."
"I think you see that this year," redshirt senior defender Maddie Nolf said of Penn State having a much smaller margin of error in conference play. "In the two games we dropped, it was just the little things. We'd have tons of shots and they'll have one chance. I think that really taught us a big lesson. It's something I'm glad we learned from."
From overtime games at Michigan State and Illinois, to close battles with Rutgers, Michigan, and Maryland, Penn State has played in eight one-goal games in the division over the course of the year.
Coach Dambach talked about the positive takeaways from playing in closer games throughout the team's difficult conference slate and how it serves to prepare her team for potential postseason play.
"Certainly, statistically that's the way so many of those games go in the postseason, so I think it gives you confidence that you can wear down your opponent," Dambach said. "Obviously we've been scoring late in these games so you can wear your opponent down and just keep going at them, but I think as each passing game goes, our confidence builds."
Nolf echoed a similar message when it came to the level of competition the team has played this season, including the team's tough one-goal losses against Nebraska and Northwestern that both came down to the wire.
"This year, every team in the Big Ten has been awesome, which is exciting," Nolf, who registered an assist in the win against Indiana, added. "I really enjoy having a competitive game every game, so I know from the Big Ten they're going to be big, strong, physical. They're going to have fast forwards, they're going to be dangerous in set pieces."
Between prolific offensive players and scorers, rugged defenders, and near immaculate goalkeepers, this conference most certainly has it all.
"You see everything in the Big Ten," redshirt junior forward Kristin Schnurr said. "You have the physicality, the athleticism, just all aspects of the game you're seeing here. Everywhere else you're just seeing so many different varieties, too. I think the Big Ten just really prepares you for (the postseason)."
With just one game remaining on the schedule against Minnesota in what will be the team's Senior Day, Penn State controls its own destiny in the Big Ten.
The Nittany Lions will look to lock up the Big Ten regular season title as they take on the Golden Gophers at Jeffrey Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
