The Iowa soccer team faces a pair of season-defining games as it hosts Ohio State today and Penn State Oct. 14 at the Iowa Soccer Complex. The Hawkeyes (11-1-3, 2-1-3 Big Ten) enter play 9 points out of first place in the Big Ten with five games remaining in the regular season.

One of the teams they have to leapfrog, the Buckeyes (8-4-1, 3-2-1) are fresh off a 1-0 victory over Purdue and sit in fourth place in the league. The Scarlett and Gray are led by junior midfielder Tiffany Cameron, who ranks fifth in the Big Ten in points (21) and goals (10).

“They are two tough teams but we’re excited to play them,” assistant coach Nick Flohre said.

“They’re both attack-minded, and both send a lot of players at you.”

The No. 4 nationally ranked Nittany Lions (12-2-0, 6-0-0) sit atop the conference and are riding a seven-match winning streak, the latest a 5-2 victory over Indiana.

Penn State’s one-two punch of junior forward Maya Hayes and senior midfielder Christine Nairn have combined for 49 points and 20 goals this season in helping the Lions’ attack become one of the nation’s fiercest.

“They’re undefeated, and we need to start getting some wins,” Hawkeye junior forward Ashley Catrell said.  “But it will be an accomplishment just to tie them.”