Fresh off a successful hosting of the Big Ten women’s soccer championship, Grand Park in Westfield will host the Big Ten men’s soccer championship this weekend.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Friday at Championship Field 1, with parking in Lot C. First up is top seed Michigan taking on fifth seed Wisconsin at noon. That will be followed by No. 2 Indiana playing No. 6 Ohio State at 2:30 p.m.
Friday’s winners will play for the championship at noon on Sunday, also on Championship Field 1.
Twelfth-ranked Michigan advanced to the semi-finals with a 4-1 victory over No. 8 Northwestern last Sunday at the Wolverines’ field. Michigan scored two goals in each half to secure the win. Local soccer fans may recognize one of the players: Junior Johann Bittner went to nearby North Central.
Wisconsin got past fourth-seeded and 23rd-ranked Maryland in its quarter-final at the Terrapins’ field. A late score by senior Mark Segbers sent the Badgers into the semi-finals.
The fourth-ranked Hoosiers needed overtime to get past No. 7 Penn State in their quarter-final in Bloomington. It took until the 97th minute, but junior Cory Thomas finally found the back of the net, off an assist by freshman Griffin Dorsey.
Ohio State upset third-seeded and ninth-ranked Michigan State 2-1 in its quarter-final. The Buckeyes scored both their goals in the first half. Among the players on the Ohio State roster is junior Alex Nichols, who helped Fishers High School to a sectional championship in 2014.
