After receiving its first-ever NCAA Tournament bid one year ago, the MSU field hockey team has matched that feat this year.

The Spartans will travel to Harvard this weekend for the first two rounds, its second consecutive championship tourney.

Last year the Spartans were ousted from the tournament by rival Michigan .

On Nov. 10 the Spartans ended a 5-year losing streak to the Wolverines by beating them 3-0, in the finals of the Big Ten Tournament.

MSU has been placed in an arguably difficult bracket, with all four teams bringing to Boston national rankings of 15 or higher.

The No. 3 Spartans (21-2) face No. 14 tournament-host Harvard (12-5) 11 a.m. Saturday.

No. 8 Northeastern (17-4) and No. 15 Connecticut (15-7) facing off in the 2 p.m. game.

Saturday's winners will meet 2 p.m. Sunday in round two.

All matches will be played on Johnson Field at Harvard in Boston,