NIU women’s golf coach Pam Tyska expects big things this weekend when the Huskies take part in the second-annual Notre Dame Invitational.

“We expect to be at the top of the field,” head coach Pam Tyska said. “Maybe even a top-five finish.”

Tyska has reason to be hopeful after a strong outing at the same golf course last year. The Huskies finished fifth at South Bend, shooting a three-round total of 980. The Huskies had four players finish in the top 25, led by Allison Beam’s score of 237.

Tyska is not the only one confident with the way the team has been playing.

“This is the best we have played in the last four years,” senior captain Allison Beam said. “We are better than we have been in the past. We have a solid team one through six.”

The Huskies again will look to seasoned veteran Beam to lead the charge. Beam has posted career-best scores in back-to-back tournaments this season.

This year’s tournament expands to 17 teams, seven more than last year’s event. The field will include teams from all over the Midwest. MAC teams Ball State and Western Michigan will be represented along with Bradley, Cincinnati, Xavier, Southwest Missouri State, Iowa and Wichita State.

Last year’s event was dominated by the hosts. Notre Dame won the event on their home course by 30 strokes.