The winner of Friday’s regular season finale between Ohio State and Michigan will advance to the 2026 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament. The matchup is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Phyllis Ocker Field.
Ohio State enters the game with a 6-10 overall record and a 1-6 mark in Big Ten play. Michigan holds a 6-9 overall record and is also 1-6 in the conference.
Ohio State Sets Season Highs in Recent Wins
Ohio State arrives at the game following two victories last weekend, including a 4-0 win against Michigan State in their final home game and a 4-1 win at Kent State. The four goals scored in each of those contests represent a season-high for the Buckeyes.
Against Kent State, the team achieved season-highs in shots (26), points (12), and corners (13). Throughout the season, Ohio State has outshot its opponents 216-184. In the win over Michigan State, the Buckeyes limited their opponent to four shots, the lowest total for a Big Ten opponent this year.
Offensively, the Buckeyes are led by Sienna Golden, who has 17 points and eight goals this season. Golden has scored the game-winning goal in four of the five games Ohio State has won in regulation. Other key contributors include Emily Barker with 14 points and Phillippa Jowett with 12 points. Anne Marie Krebs scored the game-winner in the most recent contest against the Golden Flashes.
Rookie goalkeeper Avery Alleva is 4-4 on the year, maintaining a 1.86 goals-against average and a .701 save percentage.
Ohio State Leads All-Time Series Before Conference Tournament
The all-time series between the two programs began in 1977, with Ohio State holding 26 wins. The Buckeyes have won two of the last three meetings, including a victory in Columbus last year. The most recent two matchups between the teams ended in 1-0 results decided by the home team.
Following Friday’s game, Ohio State is scheduled to host the conference tournament at Buckeye Varsity Field. The tournament schedule consists of quarterfinal games on Wednesday, semifinals on Friday, and the championship on Sunday.
