Emotions were running high on Sunday when the Michigan women's soccer team hosted Illinois in what was widely regarded as the team's most important game of the season. A win for the Wolverines would all but wrap up a berth in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The Wolverines celebrated the careers of their seniors and likely punched their ticket to this month's tournament by defeating No. 16 Illinois, 3-2, in front of the home crowd on Halloween.

And if the postseason implications weren't enough to get the adrenaline pumping for the scrappy Michigan squad, the Senior Day festivities surely did the trick.

“We knew we had to win this one,” Michigan coach Greg Ryan said. “Hopefully, we did enough (to get into the NCAA Tournament).”

Michigan (5-2-2 Big Ten, 10-3-4 overall) got the scoring started after 25 minutes of impressive defense from both sides when freshman Meghan Toohey scored her second goal in as many games. The ball deflected off of three different players before Toohey knocked it in, giving the Wolverines a lead that they wouldn't relinquish, despite challenges from Illinois.

“It's great,” Toohey said of her first two goals of the season. “But as long as we win, it doesn't matter.”

There were hugs from Michigan players' parents and gifts from the coaching staff, but the most emotional moment of the victory came in the 54th minute when senior Sarah Stanczyk found an opening from the top of the penalty box for her first career goal. In a moment of ecstasy, Stanczyk did her best Brandi Chastain impression by ripping her jersey off.

Although her celebration came at the cost of a yellow card, Stanczyk wasn't about to let that get her down.

“I don't think there could have been a better ending to my career here,” said Stanczyk. “Every game I think to myself, 'What am I going to do if I score a goal? '"

Illinois (5-3-1, 12-4-1) refused to go down quietly, cutting the deficit in half late in the game. Another Wolverine goal by freshman Nkem Ezurike, though, diminished the likelihood of an Illini comeback.

Michigan's regular season will come to an end this Sunday when the team travels to Penn State. Although the Nittany Lions don't boast a national ranking like Illinois did, many consider the program to be the best in the conference.

“Penn State, right now, is just playing some fantastic soccer,” Ryan said. “It's going to be one heck of a game.”

With the victory, the Wolverines reached the impressive 10-win mark for the first time since 2004 and hope to receive the program's first NCAA berth since 2006.

And by upsetting two ranked teams in two weeks, Michigan's bid could be on its way.