Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Set to Host Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament
11/1/2004 12:00:00β―AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 1, 2004
NU Big Ten Tournament Release in PDF Format
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Big Ten Tournament Bracket in PDF FormatDownload Free Acrobat Reader
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State earned a share of the Big Ten Championship by finishing tied atop the final regular season standings with identical records of 5-1 in League play. It marked the first time in Conference history that three teams claimed the Big Ten title.
The Wolverines also clinched the top seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming Conference Tournament for the third consecutive season. Northwestern will serve as host for the 2004 Big Ten Tournament from November 5-7 at the Leonard B. Thomas Sports Complex.
The Wolverines' win Saturday established the seedings for the 2004 Big Ten Tournament. The three top teams all split their two games between each other. Michigan was awarded the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye based on the next tiebreaker of total goal differential in all Conference games. The Wolverines, ranked ninth in the country in the latest STX/NFHCA National Coaches Poll, will open tournament play on Saturday, November 6.
Iowa, rated 14th nationally, is the No. 2 seed after going to the fifth tiebreaker, goal differential against Conference teams in descending order. The Hawkeyes will open against seventh-seeded Northwestern in the first game of the Tournament on Friday, November 5, at 10 a.m. CST. The second game of the day will feature Penn State, seeded No. 4 and ranked 19th in the country, taking on No. 5 seeded Ohio State at 12 p.m.
The final game of the opening day will include third seed and reigning Big Ten Tournament champion Michigan State, who is rated fifth nationally, against sixth-seeded Indiana at 2 p.m. The Spartans claimed their second consecutive Tournament crown last year after defeating Penn State, 5-3, in the championship game.
Top-seeded Michigan will face the winner of the Penn State-Ohio State match in the first semifinal on Saturday, November 6, at 11 a.m., while the winners of the Iowa-Northwestern and Michigan State-Indiana games will square off at 2 p.m.
The championship game is set for Sunday, November 7, at 1 p.m., and will be televised by College Sports Television on a tape-delayed basis. CSTV will broadcast the championship game on Monday, November 8 at 9 p.m. EST. For more information on the 2004 Big Ten Field Hockey Tourney, go to www.bigten.org or continue to monitor NUsports.com.
