[BIG TEN: Women] Bri Toelle‘s goal in the 62nd minute gave Iowa a 1-0 win over No. 7 Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament andset up a date with Penn State, a 2-0 winner over Wisconsin, in Friday’s semifinals. Regular-season champion Nebraska came back from a goal down in the first minute to beat Minnesota, 4-1. The No. 14Huskers will meet Indiana, a 5-3 winner over Illinois, in the other semifinal.
All four quarterfinal games were held at the Illinois Recreation Fields on artificial turf fields due to therainfall totals accumulated in Champaign throughout the week.
“Michigan is a good team and with the surface and field turf with all the weather, the game wasn’t the same as it would havebeen on grass,” said Iowa head coach Ron Rainey. “We had our one opportunity in the second half, and we put two good shots on goal, and scored on the secondone. This is an awesome result for our program, and I am humbled because this is a really good Michigan team we defeated.”
Penn State, which came into the game having lost four of itslast seven games, got big names from its seniors with first-half goals from Taylor Schram and Tani Costa off assistsfrom Emily Hurd.
“The seniors are playing like seniors right now,” said Nittany Lions coach EricaWalsh. “They are playing like it’s their last go-around and it is kind of what you wait for all season long. They are realizing that and they are carrying the team with their energyand their smiles and they’re just having a good time.”
Nebraska’s Mayme Conroy notched two goals in the win over Minnesota, whileJordan Jackson and Stacy Bartels both collected a goal.
Indiana got goal from five different players,including the game-winner by Monica Melink. Big Ten Forward of the Year Jannelle Flaws scored her school record 21stgoal for Illinois.