The Ohio State field hockey team ended its season Saturday after losing to Michigan 3-2 in the semi-finals of the 2002 Big Ten tournament.

After its defeat against Iowa, fourth-seeded OSU geared up to play top-seeded Michigan with hopes to continue in the tournament.

The Buckeyes attempted two shots during the first half of the game, and the Wolverines attempted four. The score remained 0-0 at the end of the half.

OSU junior Mariana Solorzano took a penalty shot at 14:32. The shot was initially signaled a goal, but it was then retracted as the referee ruled that the shot hit above the board.

The second half began with Michigan’s April Fronzoni scoring the first goal of the game at 37:55 with an assist by Molly Powers. OSU soon tied the score at 42:08 when Solorzano whaled the ball into the back of the net on an OSU penalty corner assisted by Stacey Todd and Jenee Doto.

The Wolverines took the lead again at 49:33 with a goal by Powers. Solorzano evened the score at 56:31, scoring another goal on a penalty corner once again assisted by Todd and Doto.

At 57:57 Michigan scored the final goal of the game on a penalty corner shot, ending the intense game and the Buckeyes’ 2002 season.

“It was a great game,” Solorzano said. “Michigan is a great team and they played good. We finished every opportunity we had, and no matter what the score was we won.”

The statistics recorded Michigan with nine total shots and OSU with six. Michigan dominated the penalty corners 10-6.

“It was a very high tempo game today,” said OSU field hockey coach Anne Wilkinson. “Michigan is a very fast and physical team. We excelled when we needed to on penalty corners, but it was unfortunate we did not get all the breaks we would have liked.”

“We played strong and hard. We played like winners,” she said.

The game not only ended OSU’s season but also the careers of five OSU seniors who recorded 48 wins in four years. Michelle Ruebman, Jen Van Kirk, Camille Butcher, McKenzie Hufford and Stacey Todd concluded their successful careers as Buckeyes.

“I am sad because we won’t get to play with the seniors anymore. They taught us everything and we are going to miss them,” said sophomore forward Cammie Trainer.

Michigan State won the tournament and the Big Ten title with a 3-0 shutout over Michigan.