For all his success in the regular season and in turning this program around, head coach Jeff Hosler has not had success in the Big Ten tournament with the Spartans. In the past two years, Hosler’s side has felt heartbreak in the quarterfinals as they bowed out of the Big Ten tournament earlier than expected. Hosler said it’s been a "sore spot," but that it’s motivating the team. 

It’s not just the Big Ten trophy that Hosler and the Spartans want, however – it’s the prime position for the NCAA tournament. The Spartans’ NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), a measure of their chances of winning the NCAA tournament that helps determine seeding, has been fluctuating between eighth and tenth place for the past week, putting them in the best position to secure that top seed. If the Spartans do well in their conference tournament, they are even more likely to secure a top seed and earn hosting rights for the first three rounds.

"We talked about how bad the coaching staff wants this one," Hosler said in a media availability on Thursday. "We didn’t show up last year. This group is really driven. There’s so much to play for – this is the best opportunity we’ve had in my time here to play for a top seed... We recruit kids who hate to lose. I think we’ve established a really sustainable winning culture in our program here. The Big Ten tournament is one that’s eluded us – that trophy is definitely one that’s on our minds."

One player already doing so is freshman goalkeeper Noell Henning, who was honored on Tuesday with a Big Ten weekly award for the third time this season and her second in as many weeks. The shot-stopper made 4 saves against Iowa, including a first career penalty save, to keep her sixth clean sheet in fourteen games.

"Those kinds of moments can sometimes galvanize your group, not just in the short term for the match, but for the team," Hosler said on Henning’s penalty save against Nebraska. "I think that created even more belief from our players and staff in (Henning), if that’s even possible."

In Henning’s Big Ten appearances, she ranks fifth in both save percentage (0.804) and goals against average (0.90). She ranks third with five Big Ten shutouts in her ten appearances. 

"I love the pressure, I thrive under that stuff. I embrace it whenever I’m in a game or training, always setting myself up for those opportunities," Henning said, sharing her high expectations for the postseason. "It’s a whole other level of soccer. We had big games going on during the regular season, but now everybody is fighting for something."

In the new format of the Big Ten conference, teams only get to play eleven out of seventeen other teams, making it hard to determine which team would really come out on top. The Big Ten tournament is another opportunity to face new teams and prove who belongs on top. 

"This is the way you can truly determine who that best team is and it gives us an opportunity with an equal chance," Hosler said.

The Spartans had to wait until late Thursday night for their next opponent to be revealed: Northwestern, a team they have not yet faced. While this lack of preparation could be seen as a negative, Hosler embraced the mystery. "It’s been refreshing, because we’ve really been able to focus on ourselves."

With two consecutive one-game weeks for the Spartans, Hosler says the team is in great shape ahead of Sunday. This is especially crucial in tournament play, where success leads to a jam-packed schedule. Bench depth will make a difference for MSU now more than ever.

"We’ve gotten some players back," Hosler said. "I think we’ll be as deep as we’ve been in probably a month and a half going into the postseason."  

Hosler’s message for the team? "Win."

The Spartans take on Northwestern on Sunday, Nov. 2, in West Lafayette, Indiana, at 3:30 p.m.