In analyzing the balance of play and statistics, one can see that MSU created many goalscoring opportunities and remained competitive in both losses. Under these circumstances, the Spartans can certainly feel hard done by. MSU’s expected goals (xG) against Xavier suggest that the scoreline could easily have been 3-1 in favor of the Spartans, rather than 5-2 the other way. MSU also recorded a higher xG than Notre Dame. These statistics indicate that MSU is excelling from a playmaking standpoint but needs to capitalize on its goalscoring chances.

The Spartans are still finding their footing as such a young team with 10 freshmen, six sophomores, eight juniors, four seniors and two graduate students. While finding their style and cohesion throughout their busy pre-season, they have begun to solidify what works and what doesn’t. Hosler was complimentary in his assessment of this current team as his “hardest training” and “most fit” group that he has worked with in his five years coaching at MSU.

"I would say we're really eager to continue to get better. I think there's been some games where we've started to kind of show how we can play,” senior defender Remini Tillotson said. “But then there's obviously a lot we can improve on. So I think we're just kind of putting those together and figuring out the puzzle pieces to unlock our potential this season."

After playing a game every three or four days since their opener, the Spartans are using this one-game week as an opportunity to not only recharge, but look internally at where they can improve. For such a fresh team, developing an identity as a playing group could turn their season around and set them on the right track in Big Ten play. 

During this period of intense and focused training, MSU can look to discover new avenues of gameplay and come up with alternatives to their moves that they just can’t seem to finish off. Although the Spartans have netted a high number of goals (17) this season so far, they need to be able to do so against higher-level opponents. Even with a hard-working and creative team, the only statistic that ultimately counts is goals scored.

"We needed a single-game week," Hosler said. "We didn't have a chance to really focus on ourselves or get ourselves right at any point. It was constant match-day preparations, match-day review and into the next prep, so this is really important for us.”

For the players, the constant cycle of playing high-intensity games, recovery and review can be very taxing. Allowing the team to center in on themselves should not only improve team performance and tactics but individual betterment.

"I think the number one thing we're focused on is just being our best each day,” Tillotson said. “We have a lot of games moving forward, but just focusing on training today and then focusing on tomorrow when we get there."

The Spartans will head to New Jersey to take on Rutgers in their Big Ten opener Friday at 4 p.m. Fans can watch the match live on Big Ten Network as MSU fights to get back to winning ways.

"It's an opportunity for us to get off on the right foot. We're playing a very good Rutgers team," Hosler said. "In my four years, every game we've played [against Rutgers] has been either a draw or within one goal, so it's going to be very, very competitive, and we have got a lot of things to be working on."

The potential impact of a win would allow MSU to reset the playing field and start the conference season on a bright note. On the flip-side, if they do not manage to wrangle a result, serious considerations of where this team is heading will surface.

"I think we need some momentum just to head into Big Ten play,” Tillotson said. “I think getting a win would definitely lift morale and also our confidence heading into the rest of the games."