“I'm someone that believes in extreme ownership. That is the most goals I've conceded since my career opener 20 years ago,” Hosler said during a media availability on Tuesday. “It was hard to take that on Sunday … Ultimately that ownership falls on me and our coaching staff in not getting our girls as prepared as well as we should. You can't concede five goals and expect to compete."

While five goals let in and nineteen shots allowed paints a grim picture for the defense, the team can take some positives out of the fact that the offense is still firing. The Spartans currently rank 1st in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in terms of goals scored, with 17 goals in six games. 

“Our preparations are gonna have a lot of defensive focus this week, getting ready for one of the top five offenses in the country.” Hosler said. “I also think this team has a lot of belief that we can show up and do what we're capable of.”

One thing that will come as a comfort to Hosler and MSU women’s soccer is that this matchup will take place at DeMartin Stadium, which has become a stronghold of sorts for the team. Each of MSU’s last five losses have come away from home and the Spartans currently hold a 17-game unbeaten streak on their home pitch.

“I love that it's going to be at home here at DeMartin," Hosler said. "We're gonna need to feel that Spartan support. But, it's up to our team to generate that environment and buzz on the field from the opening whistle to bring the crowd into the game. I think if we can do that with the game plan we have, then we'll be set up for an opportunity [to get] three points." 

Spartan soccer has been drawing crowds of over 1,200 fans to DeMartin Stadium at every home match so far, ranking eighth nationally in average attendance (2,111) and third in overall attendance (8,442). Colin Pearson, a senior civil engineering major and four-year member of the Red Cedar Rowdies—a group of students dedicated to supporting both the men’s and women’s soccer teams with lively antics—believes the community can do even better.

“I feel like the Rowdies have a huge impact on the field. Opponents are always distracted by us, the team feels a little more fired up — You can tell a difference for sure in the energy on the pitch.” Pearson said. “You gotta create that home field advantage, it doesn’t just come naturally.”

Redshirt freshman forward Shelby Vaughn emphasized the value of the home crowd.

"It's gonna help us a lot," Vaughn said. "It's really going to energize us and help us be more confident in ourselves."

Vaughn scored her second goal of the season on Sunday against Xavier, making her one of just four players on the roster with two or more goals so far. After spending her freshman year sidelined by injury, she's now ready to step up, and has already proven her value by scoring in her very first match for MSU against Milwaukee on Aug. 24.

"I'm feeling pretty confident in myself," Vaughn said. "I'm excited to step out on the field against Notre Dame again." 

Heading into Thursday's match, Vaughn emphasized the importance of confidence, noting that while the opponent is a strong team, the Spartans believe in their own abilities and are approaching the game with the mindset that they can compete at the same level.

With Notre Dame consistently ranked near the top and MSU recently falling out of the top 25, Hosler made it clear that rankings aren't a major focus for him. He emphasized that early-season rankings don’t carry much weight and that what truly matters is how a team finishes the year. Still, he acknowledged that Notre Dame’s top-five ranking is well-deserved, describing them as a very talented group.

MSU will play Notre Dame on Sep. 4 at DeMartin Stadium in their final non-conference game before heading to Rutgers on Sep. 12.