The Spartans scored the game’s lone goal 11 minutes into the second half, when sophomore midfielder Jeff Ricondo passed to senior forward Louis Stephens III from the right side of the net. Stephens, in the center of the box, kicked a quick touch-pass to senior forward Doug DeMartin, who knocked the eventual game-winning goal through the left side of the net.

“It was tough all game; we didn’t get a ton of looks but we knew we had to keep grinding, keep playing all 90 minutes,” said DeMartin, whose goal was his nation-leading 17th of the season. “We knew we were going to get some chances and we just had to finish them.”

Indiana kept fighting throughout the rest of the game, getting nine shots in the remaining 23 minutes of play, but sophomore goalkeeper Avery Steinlage and the MSU defense kept the Hoosiers at bay for MSU’s 12th shutout of the season.

“We thought we had a chance because we’ve been playing really good defense lately,” MSU head coach Joe Baum said.

“Indiana’s a good team and we knew the longer we could hang in there the better chance we had.”

With the win, MSU earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans will find out when and who they play tonight when the men’s soccer NCAA Selection Show is televised on ESPNEWS between 6 and 6:30 p.m.

This is the second straight season the Spartans have qualified for the NCAA Tournament, losing 2-0 to Oakland in the opening round of the tournament last year in East Lansing.

“We’re going to get a first round bye, I guess that’s what they’re saying now,” Baum said of where his team will end up.

“Right now, we’re a little beat up physically and mentally, but I think if we can regroup physically and emotionally we can advance.”

Both DeMartin and Steinlage said the Spartans’ disappointing end to last season is in the past, also saying MSU is confident heading into the NCAA Tournament. Although the team pointed before the season to a regular season and Big Ten Tournament championship as goals, Steinlage said the only goal in the postseason is to play as long as possible.

“I don’t think if we reach the Sweet 16 we’re going to say, ‘Oh, sweet’ and be happy with it,” Steinagle said. “We’re playing confident right now and will be confident heading into the NCAAs. We just want to go as deep as we can.”