Rutgers field hockey begins postseason play this week as the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The Scarlet Knights face No. 5 seed Ohio State in the quarterfinals on Thursday morning in Maryland. Face off is set for 11 a.m. Rutgers finished league play with a 4-4 record, representing the 6th time over the past 7 seasons RU finished .500 or better in conference play. The Scarlet Knights finished conference play strong, with wins in their last three league games (Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State). One of the strengths of Rutgers is a strong team defense. Sophia Howard is a three-year starter in goal, had shutouts in three of the team’s four conference wins, and was twice named both the Big Ten and national NFHCA Defensively Player of the Year. Paulina Niklaus is a key piece at the back, and also has scored seven goals on the year. She is tied with Guillermina Causarano for the team lead in goals, while Causarano leads the team in assists (9) and points (23). Bridy Molyneaux, who played at Lawrenceville, is one of the Scarlet Knights captains and she has a goal and an assist on the season. About the Opponent Ohio State earned the fifth seed and is ranked seventh nationally in the NFCHA Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes finished the season at 14-4 overall, unbeaten in non-conference play, and 4-4 in league play. OSU entered the matchup with Rutgers in the regular season having won 12 of its first 13 games, then finished with just two wins and three losses in the final five games. OSU outscored opponents 56-18 on the year. RU was at a 30-28 advantage. Mackenna Webster (15 goals, 10 assists) is ninth nationally in points per game (2.22) and 14th in goals (0.83). Katie Fichtner added seven goals and had 16 points. Abby Danson is sixth nationally in save percentage (.797). OSU is fifth in the nation in goals-against average (0.98) while also top-ten offensively, standing ninth in goals per game (3.06). Big Ten Tournament History Rutgers is 4-8 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament, qualifying for the event in nine of the 10 previous seasons as a league member. Last season RU was the No. 2 seed and defeated host Michigan in the opening round (1-0) prior to a loss to No. 3 seed Maryland (2-1). Prior to that, all of RU’s lifetime wins in the Big Ten Tournament have come during a 3-0 run to the Big Ten Tournament title in 2021.