This weekend could prove to be a crucial one for the Ohio field hockey team. The team will face two nationally ranked opponents in games that will determine if the Bobcats move up, go down, or stay at No. 20 in the Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll.

The Bobcats travel to Ann Arbor and East Lansing, Mich., to face the California-Berkeley Golden Bears, the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans.

After a loss to Michigan (4-3) last week, Michigan State's record fell to 6-2. Michigan State and Michigan are ranked 11th and 12th respectively in the Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll. This week, Ohio was ranked in the poll for the first time this season.

Considering the team's recent move in the poll, Head Coach Shelly Morris said the results help the team acknowledge its ability to play well against top 20 teams.

"They recognize the fact that we can compete at that level," she said. "It gave them a lot of confidence."

Team captain Andrea Pettinato said the team feels some pressure from the ranking.

"It's more pressure than before, but it is good pressure," she said. "It makes us feel like we know we can do it now. We know we can win."

Pettinato said the matchups with both Michigan and Michigan State are the toughest games of the weekend and are crucial to the rest of the season.

"(These are) huge games for us right now," she said. "If we come off this weekend with at least two out of three wins, we're going to move up in the top 20 polls."

Ohio back Brea Webster said she agrees this is an important weekend for the Bobcats; however, she said they are prepared for the challenge.

"We feel really confident," she said. "This weekend is really key. This weekend will definitely determine the outlook on the rest of the season."

While the rest of the season holds some more tough matchups, including No. 13 Ball State and No. 17 Kent, Webster said the Bobcats are taking the games step by step.

"It looks positive," she said. "We're taking one team at a time and doing what we have to do."

The team faces Michigan on Saturday and Michigan State at Spartan Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m.