The matchup today between the MSU women’s soccer team and Michigan has more at stake than just state pride.

The game comes in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament in West Lafayette, Ind.

With a record of 10-7-2, the Spartans have only a slight chance of receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

But with a strong showing in the Big Ten Tournament, the team could win an automatic bid or at least increase its chances of receiving an invitation, head coach Tom Saxton said.

“The NCAA Tournament is still there for us,” he said. “We have to do well this week at Purdue, but with a couple of wins we could put ourselves right in position to be given serious consideration by the selection committee.”

The first step toward that goal is U-M (11-6-1, 8-2).

The Wolverines took the only regular season contest between the two teams 2-1 with U-M’s two goals scored by Abby Crumpton in the second half.

MSU sophomore forward Kristi Arrington scored the Spartans‘ lone goal.

Despite the loss against the Wolverines in the regular season, the Spartans remain optimistic about the matchup, senior defenseman Erin Stohl said.

“We lost to Michigan, but I think we should have won, so I’m really excited to play them first,” Stohl said. “They’re a big rival, so it’s not ‘Oh, Michigan.’ We know that we’re better than Michigan - we have to prove it.”

If the team can surpass U-M, the team will face the winner of the Illinois vs. Iowa matchup.

The Spartans lost to both teams but both defeats came at the beginning of MSU’s Big Ten season, when the team was struggling to find its offense.

In the first five games of conference season, the team accumulated a 1-3-1 record, recording its lone win against Northwestern.

“I think if you went back a few weeks ago