The passion and motivation of the MSU men’s soccer team was rightly rewarded Monday with a berth in its first NCAA Tournament since 1969.

Unfortunately, the team has achieved this historic season with little attention - further exemplifying team members’ fire for the sport. While other athletics teams strive for of constant newspaper headlines, the soccer team’s players, coaches and staff have done their work quietly - although not any less intensely.

This intensity will come into play Friday when the team faces Butler in the first round of the tournament. If the Spartans advance into the second round it will face Big Ten rival Indiana, which has won the two matchups the two teams have played this season.

But win or lose in the tournament, this team has placed its footmark in the storied history of MSU.

In its 18 games this season, the team came from behind to win or tie four times, finishing 12-5-1. With toughness and determination this team has exhibited, it is no wonder it has made it this far.

And we hope a little of the team’s head coach, Joe Baum, rubs off on the players. Baum was goalkeeper for the Spartans the last time they appeared in the NCAA Tournament. Baum was also part of MSU’s 1967 and 1968 co-National Championship teams.

But with the winning mentality team members have shown this season, they’ve already won something - pride.