Though the Big Ten regular season title is out of reach, No. 15 Illinois (10-3-2, 6-1-2) will try to finish the Big Ten season on a high note tonight when they host Northwestern (7-7-1, 3-5-1).

Though Penn State has wrapped up the conference title, Illinois clinched their best Big Ten finish ever. At worst, the Illini will tie for second, though they could slip from the No. 2 to a No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament with a loss tonight.

The implications for Northwestern are higher. They need a win to get into the eight-team tourney. A tie between Michigan and Michigan State would keep the Wildcats out of tournament competition either way.

Despite the lack of consequence for the Illini tonight, head coach Janet Rayfield said they will approach tonight's game, as well as Sunday's game against Wisconsin-Green Bay, the same as any other.

"We're going after these games like they were any regular season game," Rayfield said. "We set some goals for us at the beginning of the season that have nothing to do with results, and we still have some of those left to accomplish."

The most important goal the Illini set for themselves has been achieved with flying colors all season. The team's defense has ranked among the Big Ten leaders in almost every defensive category.

Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Defender Meghan Kolze and goaltender Leisha Alcia have each garnered Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Honors this year. Alcia won it a second time this week after 11 saves in a 1-1 tie with Purdue last Sunday. The goaltender first won the award on Sept. 22.

"We're in a pretty good position right now compared to last year," Alcia said. "We're pretty excited about that."

In addition to the individual awards, the entire program is receiving notice for their improvement. This week's No. 15 ranking in the NSCAA poll equals their best ever. The last time the Illini checked in at No. 15 was Sept. 21, 1999.

"I think we've come into the rankings in a way that makes sense to me," Rayfield said. "We've crept our way in as we've gotten better each game and made people notice that Illinois is continuing to be consistant."

Illinois will continue to look for the same offensive consistency they have sustained on defense.

"We just want to be more dangerous, offensively," Rayfield said. "We want to show in the next three games that we can put more shots on frame, and the result of that should be more shots on goal."

Tara Hurless has proven she can be counted on to provide offense. She scored all three Illini goals last weekend to up her total to nine. Barring a barrage of goals by freshman Jessica Bayne, who has five, this will be the third straight year Hurless leads Illinois in scoring.

"We're coming together," said Hurless. "We've been working on getting behind the defenders either forefront or foreback. If we communicate well, we'll get some goals."