MSU limped home Monday from a 0-2 weekend, a performance that dropped the Spartan field hockey team from No. 7 to No. 8 in the national poll.
But after a week of spirited practice, head coach Michele Madison said her team is ready for its Big Ten opener today at No. 19 Indiana.
"I think we've really responded well this week," Madison said. "The reason we played those games was to get ready for the Big Ten Conference, and we've really learned what we have to work on and what the best teams do well."
The Spartans (5-3) suffered two setbacks during their Sept. 21-22 trip to North Carolina. The first came in the form of a 5-0 loss to defending National Champion Wake Forest, and the second was a 2-0 loss to No. 4 Duke. They were MSU's first back-to-back losses since the 2000 season.
Unlike MSU, No. 19 Indiana has had a strong start to its season with a 4-1 record. Its first loss came Sunday against No. 20 Richmond. Prior to Sunday, the Hoosiers were unbeaten and unscored upon.
"Amy (Robertson) has really built the program up in the four years she's been there," Madison said of Indiana's head coach. "They are a feisty, skilled team, and they run a nice passing game. They have an outstanding goalie and put relentless pressure on their opponents as well."
The last time MSU and Indiana met in competition, the Spartans ended the Hoosiers 6-13 season with a 3-0 shutout during the 2002 Big Ten Tournament.
On Sunday, the Spartans return home to take on Ohio (2-4). MSU is the third Big Ten team the Bobcats have faced this season, as they have lost 6-0 to No. 5-ranked Michigan and more recently a 3-2 overtime heartbreaker to in-state rival Ohio State. The Spartans are 4-1 all-time against Ohio.
Madison said whether facing ranked opponents or not, her squad needs to be prepared to collect wins now that the Big Ten season is in swing.
"All games are big ones to win," she said. "If a team wins five, six games in the Big Ten, that's great. The most consistent in all the Big Ten games is going to get a chance at the national tournament.
"There's six of us in the top 20 and now we have to be ready to perform every day."
