BTN.com staff, April 30, 2015

The opening day of the Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament featured two outstanding games.

Northwestern started the day with an impressive 13-9 win over Michigan. Ohio State followed that up with a commanding 17-7 victory over Rutgers.

The Wildcats will advance to Friday's semifinals where they will take on Penn State at 5:30 ET. Ohio State will follow that with a semifinal matchup against Maryland.

Catch up on all of Thursday's Big Ten Women's Lacrosse Tournament action below.

NORTHWESTERN 13, MICHIGAN 9: RECAP | VIDEO

Northwestern shook off a sloppy start and held off a pesky Michigan squad to claim a victory in the opening game of the inaugural Big Ten Tournament Thursday afternoon, 13-9. The victory advances the Wildcats to tomorrow's semifinals where they will take on No. 2-seed Penn State at 4:30 CT.

Junior Kaleigh Craig tallied a hat trick in the second half, senior Kara Mupo had a hat trick as well and sophomore Sheila Nesselbush scored a pair of goals to lead a group of eight NU goal scorers.

OHIO STATE 17, RUTGERS 7: RECAP | VIDEO

Katie Chase scored four goals - all in the first half - and Rainey Hodgson and Kelsea Ayers also notched hat tricks as No. 20 and No. 4-seed Ohio State cruised to a 17-7 win over No. 5-seed Rutgers in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals Thursday evening at High Point Solutions Stadium on the campus of Rutgers University.

Ohio State, now 12-6, advances to Friday?s semifinals vs. No. 1 Maryland around 8 p.m. ET on BTN. In the first quarterfinal game, No. 3-seed Northwestern defeated No. 6 Michigan, 13-8, and will play No. 2 Penn State at 5:30 p.m. Friday.