Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University will be the host for the 2004 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament. The tournament field consists of the Big Ten's top eight regular season teams and is highlighted by three teams ranked in the NSCAA/adidas Top 25, including the seven-time Big Ten Champion Penn State Nittany Lions, the defending Big Ten Tournament Champion Illinois Fighting Illini, and the tournament host Ohio State Buckeyes. The postseason kicks off Thursday, November 4th at 10:30 a.m. EST with four quarterfinal games. The winners will meet in the semifinal matchups on Friday beginning at 4:30, with the Championship game, which will be televised live on CSTV, is scheduled for Sunday at 2:30.

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The tournament's No. 1 seed is the Penn State Nittany Lions, which have earned the Big Ten title each of the past seven seasons. Penn State comes into the Big Ten Tournament currently ranked No. 3 nationally and having secured its best regular season record in school history, finishing 16-1-1 overall and 10-0 in the Big Ten. The offensive attack for the Lions is headed by National Player of the Year/Hermann Trophy candidate junior Tiffany Weimer. A six-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week selection in 2004, her 53 points not only leads the conference, but does so by 20. She also leads the Big Ten with 22 goals, seven more than her closest conference competitor, Kelsey Hans of Northwestern. She is the only player in the conference to be averaging more than a goal each time out, currently at a clip of 1.22 goals a game. In addition, Weimer is second in the Big Ten in assists, averaging one every other game. Despite Weimer's offensive success throughout the season, the Lions have relied as heavily on the defense and goalkeeping as they have on her the scoring. Despite ranking 10th in the conference in saves, Penn State junior keeper Erin McLeod leads all goalies in shutouts with 10. Through 16 games, McLeod, who was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2004, has given up only three scores on 45 shots. The Lions' defense has performed impressively throughout the regular season as well. Led by a third Big Ten Player of the Week honoree, Natalie Jacobs, the Penn State defense has allowed a league low five goals. After being upset in the first round by Wisconsin in last year's tournament, the Lions will be looking to earn their fourth tournament title this year. Penn State's first round opponent, the No. 8 seed Indiana Hoosiers, traveled to Happy Valley early in the season and lost by a count of 1-0. Weimer scored the game winning goal in the 67th minute.

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The hosts for the 2004 Big Ten Tournament earned the second seed in the event. The Ohio State Buckeyes ended the season with a 13-3-3 overall mark and a 6-1-3 record in conference, with their sole Big Ten loss coming at the expense of the top-seeded Nittany Lions. Ohio State, ranked No. 14 nationally, is one of the most well-rounded teams in the conference, scoring the most goals in the Big Ten and giving up the third fewest. The Buckeye offense is led by junior Lisa Grubb, a Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honoree in 2004, but the scoring has been distributed well amongst the front line. Grubb, junior Danielle Dietrich, and freshman Lara Dickenmann sit as the Big Ten's fourth, fifth, and sixth top point scorers heading into the post season. Dickenmann was also selected as a Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honoree. While the offense has been productive throughout the season, the Buckeye defense has been just as efficient. Ohio State has allowed the second fewest shots on goal in the Big Ten during the regular season. Ohio State has used two primary goalies throughout the season. Senior Emily Haynam started the majority of the Buckeye games, including four shutouts, but fellow senior Jen Heaney did see action in nine games, including a shutout of her own. The Ohio State defenders have been up to the task as well throughout the season, allowing only 15 goals in 19 games. Ohio State played to a 9-0-1 record at home this season, and will look to continue that trend in the Big Ten Tournament. The No. 7 seed Purdue Boilermakers provide the first round opposition for Ohio State. In their lone meeting of the year, senior Heather Miller provided the only goal of the game in the 1-0 Buckeye victory from Jess Owens Memorial Stadium.

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The Michigan Wolverines come into the Big Ten Tournament seeded third with a record of 10-7-2 overall and 6-3-1 in conference. The Wolverines are led on defense by sophomore goalkeeper Megan Tuura, who has recorded 80 saves through 19 regular season games, including five shutouts. A two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week selection in 2004, Tuura has been the only keeper in net for Michigan this year. Junior forward Therese Heaton has been the offensive leader for the Wolverines this season, leading the team in shots, points, and goals, and ranking in the conference's top 10 in all of those categories. Freshman Jaime Artsis received Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors for her four goals in one week, including a double overtime game winner against Minnesota and a hat-trick versus Iowa. Throughout the 2004 Big Ten season, Michigan has used tough defense to keep their games close. In their 10 conference games, the Wolverines have only had two games- one win and one loss- decided by more than a single goal. Captain Rachel Rothenbach is the only upperclassman on a backline that also consists of freshman Kandice McLaughlin and sophomore Brenna Mulholland. All three defenders have started all 19 games for Michigan. The Wolverines, the 2003 tournament runners-up, are looking to join Penn State as the only two programs to record three Big Ten Tournament titles. Michigan's first round opponent is the sixth seeded Wisconsin Badgers. In their only previous meeting of the season, Wisconsin defeated the visiting Wolverines 3-1.

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The defending tournament champion Illinois Fighting Illini come into Columbus seeded fourth in the 2004 tournament. Ranked 20th nationally, the Illini enters the Big Ten Tournament with a 12-4-2 record, including a 5-3-2 mark in conference. The offensive leader for Illinois is senior forward Tara Hurless. Seventh in the conference in points, Hurless has recorded eight goals and seven assists on the campaign, both team bests. Her eight goals include six game winners, which is tied with Penn State's Tiffany Weimer for the Big Ten lead. Sophomore forward Jessica Bayne shares the team lead with Hurless with eight goals on the season. Illinois' goalkeeper has played an important role for the team throughout the year as well. Leisha Alcia has started all of the teams' 18 games in net and has recorded the conference's fourth best save total with 84 during the regular season, the most of any goalie in the tournament. The senior captain's seven shutouts rank second in the conference. The defensive backfield of sophomore Sarah Brown, junior Kelly Campbell, junior Christen Karniski has started every game for the Illini and has guided the team to the Big Ten's second best goals allowed total. In the first round of the tournament, Illinois will face intrastate rival Northwestern. In their only match of the season, the Illini and Wildcats played to a scoreless tie in both teams' Big Ten regular season finale.

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The Northwestern Wildcats have ridden an 11-7-2 season record- including a 5-4-1 mark in the conference, to the fifth seed in the 2004 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament. The leader for Northwestern is Kelsey Hans. The freshman forward ranks second in the Big Ten in points per game with 1.68 and goals with 15. Hans' goal total moves her past Stephanie Erickson, now an assistant coach with the Wildcats, for the single season goal record at Northwestern and is more than half way to establishing a new career mark for the school. Next to Hans, the offensive load has been shouldered by a trio of players. Sophomore Shannon Schneeman is next on the team with 15 points, trailed closely by senior Ashleigh Garmon's 14 and junior Tabitha Lowey's 13. The offense has led the Wildcats to the fourth most goals of any team in the Big Ten. Sophomore netminder, Whitney Jones has started 36 of her 37 matches in her two years with Northwestern, and this year is tied for the fifth best goals against average in the Big Ten Tournament. She has recorded four shutouts so far in 2004, which matches her total from a year ago. The defense of Northwestern is led by senior Carolyn Hack who has started all 78 games in her collegiate career and was selected a team captain for her freshman season. Sophomore Tori Bohannon, senior Katie Gunderson, and freshman Beth Martin also see significant time on the defensive end of the field.

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The Wisconsin Badgers enter the 2004 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament on a seven game winning streak that took their season total to 15-4-1 and 5-4-1 in the Big Ten. The No. 6 seeded Badgers are led by junior Amy Vermeulen, who was honored as a Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week selection once in 2004. Her 11 goals put her third in the conference and coupled with her Big Ten leading 11 assists, she ranks second in the league in scoring with 33 points. Along with Vermeulen, junior Katy Lindenmuth has led the offensive charge. Recording seven goals and eight assists she ranked eighth in the conference in points. Vermeulen and Lindenmuth were one of two conference sets of teammates to rank in the top 10 in total points. Lindenmuth was selected as an Offensive Player of the Week for a five-point weekend against in-state foes, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Wisconsin-Green Bay. The goalkeeping for the Badgers is primarily handled by freshman Lynn Murray. Her five shutouts rank her fifth in the conference in that category, while the team's combined nine ranks them second in the league. With only two seniors on their roster, the Badgers have put together a strong, albeit young, backline. Sophomore Natalie Horner leads the group, having started all 40 games in her career in Madison. She is joined on defense by freshman Ann Eshun and sophomore Stacy Omundson. While the trio is young, they have helped Wisconsin to the Big Ten's second-longest winning streak heading into the conference tournament.

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The seventh seed in the 2004 Big Ten Women's Big Ten Tournament is the Purdue Boilermakers. With a 10-9-0 record overall and a 4-6-0 mark in conference, the Boilers have qualified for the conference tournament for the fifth straight year. Purdue has used a steady defense and balanced scoring throughout the year to secure their fifth consecutive winning season in the brief seven-year history of the Purdue program. Senior midfielder Meghan Dybvig has been the driving force behind the team having played in a school record 84 games in her four year career. Dybvig is one of 12 Boilermakers to record multiple points on the season. Freshman forward Parrissa Eyorokon leads the team with 12 points on four goals and four assists. Due to a season-ending injury suffered by returning starter Sharon Pagorek that occurred before the season began, head coach Robert Klatte was forced to start three players with virtually no experience in the defensive backfield. Sophomore Kristin Lichtenberg was the only player who had played a collegiate game to start, having seen action in three games as a freshman. She was joined by freshmen Christy Riggle and Kira Bilecky on the backline. Despite their youth, the Purdue defense led the team to the fifth best goals against total in the conference, giving up just one a game. Until sitting down for the last seven minutes of a 3-0 win over Oakland University in Purdue's second to last game of the season, Lichtenberg had played in the first 1,613 minutes of the season for the Boilermakers. Lichtenberg was honored as the first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week selection in 2004. Sophomore Lauren Mason and senior Maureen Carey have shared the goalkeeping duties this season and combined for the conference's third best total of eight shutouts. Carey was also named a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week in 2004.

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The Indiana Hoosiers enter the Big Ten Tournament seeded eighth overall. With a 9-6-3 record on the season, including a 3-5-2 mark in conference, the Hoosiers enter the postseason looking for their first Big Ten tournament win since 1998. Indiana is led by senior midfielder Kim Grodek. Named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week in the first week of the season, Grodek has compiled 22 points on nine goals and four assists this season, ranking eighth in the conference's point race. Sophomore Megan Pipkens and freshman Lindsay McCarthy follow up Grodek with 15 and 13 points respectively. The defense and goalkeeping has been what has kept the Hoosiers in many of their contests this season. As one of only four conference teams to allow less than a goal a game, junior goalie Lauren Fabbro has put her team in position to win more times than not. Fabbro, named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week once in 2004, has played every minute in goal for Indiana this year, recording six shutouts, the third most in the Big Ten in 2004. The backline for the Hoosiers is very young, with a rotation of sophomores Lauren Dieter, Lauren Lamping, and Missy Vierling and freshman Beverly Markwort. Lamping was a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honoree in 2004.