The Spartans (12-4 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) said every conference matchup has helped prepare them for the Big Ten Tournament, and they expect this game won’t be any different. They are taking advantage of having only one game this weekend and being able to focus on more specific details like stepping out of the circle on defense and playing both sides of the ball.

“It’s nice that we only have one game this weekend to prepare for, which allows us to spend a little bit more time on things that are working well and things we need to improve,” head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said. “Ultimately, that will help us to be prepared for the Big Ten Tournament.”

Coming off of a 2-1 win against Northwestern, senior forward Camille Dagorn said she hopes the Spartans’ momentum will be able to carry them through against Indiana (9-5, 1-3). She said a big win this late in the regular season would build the team’s confidence as it enters the postseason.

“They’re always a scrappy team,” Mackay said. “They fight for every ball, so (we) just know that they’re not going to let down. … Most importantly is us sticking to our game plan and consistently doing it.”

Van de Kerkhof said if his team focuses on the process of playing the ball up the field and playing offense and defense with equal efforts, then it’s set up for a victory against the “feisty” Hoosiers. As they have been the whole season, the Spartans are practicing their drive in their attacking 25 and finishing their execution plan.

“We need to be finishing on goal because we’ve been harping on that for so long now,” Mackay said. “We’re knocking on the door. This is the time now, and we just need to put it in the goal.”

In addition to hosting its 2010 Fall Play Day after the game, the Spartans are taking the televised game as an opportunity to fundraise for breast cancer. For this annual MSU field hockey tradition, the team is selling shirts and will have a table set up for donations from spectators.

Van de Kerkhof said he anticipates that the players also will wear pink ribbons in their hair.

“We want to bring the fight against breast cancer into the living room,” he said.

With this game being the seniors’ last time playing on Ralph Young, the Spartans said the experience will be sentimental but also will serve as additional motivation to win.

“I think everybody right now has (it) in their heads that it’s one of the last games,” Mackay said. “So we need to leave everything out there, especially the seniors with it being our last home game.”

“We just need to keep playing with heart.”