Despite losing four key players to season-ending injuries and having their postseason hopes come down to their regular season finale, the Spartans (11-4-4) advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and fourth time in school history — the first time MSU has made it in two consecutive years.

They will travel to Santa Clara to face the Broncos (13-6-1), seeded No. 4 in the Stanford Bracket, at 6 p.m. Friday at Buck Shaw Stadium.

“A lot of our key players are missing, but we still pulled it off,” said senior forward Lauren Hill, who scored the game-winning goal against Ohio State. “That says a lot about each and every one of our characters, no matter if we’re on the field or off. And I think that’s going to be a big push and motivation when we play Santa Clara. They’re a phenomenal team, but we can be phenomenal too. We can cause an upset.”

If MSU were to beat the Broncos, the Spartans would face the winner of Oklahoma State (15-7-0) and Southern California (12-6-2) at 7 p.m. Sunday at Buck Shaw Stadium.

No. 1 Stanford (20-0-0), No. 3 UCLA (17-2-1), No. 6 Florida State (16-4-1) and No. 5 North Carolina (17-3-1) — also the reigning national champions — are the four No. 1 seeds in the 64-team tournament.

MSU is one of five Big Ten teams — along with Penn State, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin — to make the tournament.

“We’ve been through a lot this year, and we were ready to deal with it one way or another,” MSU head coach Tom Saxton said about the possibility of his team not making the tournament. “But I’m happy for them and obviously it’s been a special season for us overcoming all the different obstacles. We’re excited and it’s going to be a tough test.”

Saxton called Santa Clara one of the all-time great women’s soccer programs, a statement backed up by its 20 NCAA Tournament appearances and 27 winning seasons. Only four NCAA Division 1 programs (North Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut, and William and Mary) have more NCAA Tournament appearances than the Broncos.

This season, the Broncos faced two Big Ten teams — beating Purdue 3-1 and Wisconsin 2-1. MSU tied Purdue 1-1 and lost to Wisconsin 1-0.

The Spartans may have staked their claim as one of the 64 best teams in the country with their bid, but they’re now looking continue to prove what they have been all season: Despite the injuries and constant lineup changes, the Spartans can hang with any team in the country.

“Throughout the season, we’ve proved that we can play with anybody, regardless who is on the field — that we have the heart and determination to make things happen,” senior defender Megan Brown said. “We’ve had players step up and show that we’re not a few big names — that we’re a team full of players — and by playing together, that’s how we’re successful.”