UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Nov. 7, 2003) - Vanessa Immordino had a goal and two assists to help No. 3 Ohio State defeat No. 6 Northwestern 3-2 Friday at the Big Ten Tournament at Bigler Field.

The Buckeyes' victory eliminates Northwestern and sets the semifinal round for Saturday. No. 1 Michigan will play its first game of the tournament after having a first-round bye when it takes on No. 4 Penn State 11 a.m. Saturday. The Nittany Lions defeated No. 5 Iowa 3-1 in quarterfinal action on Friday. In the other Big Ten semifinal, No. 2 Michigan State, a 3-1 winner over No. 7 Indiana, will battle No. 3 Ohio State, a 3-1 victor over No. 6 Northwestern, 2 p.m. Saturday to set the championship final, which is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday.

"The two goals to start the second half set the tempo for the rest of the game," said Ohio State coach Anne Wilkinson. "Vanessa Immordino played a great."

Immordino started the scoring in the 28th minute off a cross from Lucy Clayton.

The score went into halftime at 1-0 Buckeyes, but Ohio State struck twice in the first three minutes of the second half. Curlyne Wynn tallied her seventh goal of the season at 35:38 and Cammie Trainer scored her third off a deflected shot from Immordino at 37:15 to make it 3-0 Buckeyes.

But the Wildcats came storming back with two goals to make it 3-2. Candice Cooper knocked the ball past Lindsay Williams off a pass through the circle from Meghan Small at 46:54 and Diane Provencher pulled Northwestern to within one goal at 3-2 with 8:42 remaining.

However, it was too little, too late for the Wildcats as Ohio State held on for the victory.

 Big Ten Field Hockey Tournament (Friday at Bigler Field) No. 3 Ohio State 3 No. 6 Northwestern 2 First-half Scoring 1. Vanessa Immordino, OSU, (Lucy Clayton) 28:25. Second-half Scoring 2. Florencia Stier, OSU, (Vanessa Immordino) 35:38; 3. Cammie Trainer, OSU, (Vanessa Immordino) 37:15; 4. Candice Cooper, NWU, (Meghan Small) 46:54; 5. Diane Provencher, NWU, (Holly Palin) 61:18. Shots: NWU - 17; OSU - 10. Saves: NWU - 5 (Sherri-Anne Nyberg); OSU - 10 (Lindsay Williams). Corners: NWU - 12; OSU - 5. Records: NWU - 9-8, 1-5; OSU - 12-6, 4-2. Next Game: Northwestern season over; No. 3 Ohio State versus No. 2 Michigan State, 2 p.m. Saturday at Bigler Field. No. 1 Michigan versus No. 4 Penn State, 11 a.m. Saturday at Bigler Field.