Hosler employed careful tactics against Indiana, a team known for setting up possession traps in the midfield in hopes of forcing a turnover that leads to a counterattack. Players emphasized protecting the ball while balancing risk-taking. As the Spartans near the end of their season, they have become visibly warier of bold plays and creative moves.

"As the season goes on, the stakes get magnified," Hosler said. "I think a lot of time you’re doing things to not make the mistake. I went back and watched our TCU scrimmage — our very first competition against anybody this year — and players were zipping around the field, demanding the ball. The last couple of games, it just felt like a burden because they’re giving it away and that’s how teams are scoring against us…We’re gonna have to get that joy back of being on the ball."

As the game ticked closer to half-time without much action in front of goal, junior midfielder Kayla Briggs unleashed a rocket that skimmed the fingers of Hoosier goalkeeper Dani Jacobson as it flew into the top left corner. The shot came from well outside the box and marked her third goal of the season. 

Then, capitalizing on that momentum, junior attacker Ella Janz wove through multiple Hoosiers in the box to net her first goal of the season and give the Spartans a safe margin heading into the break. 

"I really needed it and this team really needed it," Janz said of her goal. "We needed to get going. Kayla kicked it off for us. We were going through a drought a little bit that first half and she motivated me to go get one."

"EJ [Janz] is awesome," Briggs said post-match. "That was a huge momentum change for our team — having EJ score a goal like that and having that energy coming in off the bench."

Those five minutes before half-time were undoubtedly the most exciting of the game, with Janz describing the first half as a "drought." With Briggs getting the team started and Janz finishing it off, the team had a shot of energy that carried them through to a much more open second half. Janz exemplified the joy that Hosler spoke about, bringing a sense of urgency and desire to be on the ball when she came on. 

"Sometimes it's about being a little selfish," Janz said. "Girls sometimes play safe because they want to protect the ball and they don’t want to mess up, but we’re trying to get going with taking those risks…That’s what you gotta do. You gotta come on the field and you gotta make something happen."

The Spartans recorded eleven shots, six of which were on target. While this conversion rate still leaves much to be desired, it was promising that the Spartans both reigned in chaos and in controlled, tricky moves. Finding many avenues has been a strength of MSU’s attack.

"That’s been an emphasis, the little combinations around the top of the box," Briggs said. "We were good to get on the scoresheet and score some goals, but we can always do more."

Freshman goalkeeper Noelle Henning made four saves and kept the clean sheet for her fifth of the season. She played a little higher than usual, performing some "sweeper keeper" functions to aid the high defensive line. 

After a run of games marked by fouls, the Spartans and the Hoosiers played out a game more unblemished by stoppages, with nine fouls apiece. Against Iowa and Michigan, each game culminated in 30 and 31 fouls respectively — only 10 and 11 of which came from the Spartans. For players and fans alike, this game offered a reprieve from constant free-kicks marring the flow of play and hard tackles taking players out.

"Both were very physical matches, so not just emotionally, but physically took a toll on us," Hosler said. "We’re still trying to get players back."

This late in the season, managing injuries and player load becomes more difficult than ever. In fact, not one Spartan remained on the field for the full 90 aside from Henning. 

"It was a much more concerted effort today to get more players involved," Hosler said. "The good thing about depth is that you have it. The bad thing about depth is that it can sometimes disrupt continuity. The coaching staff is trying to manage these players' loads, but then we’re pointing some people in positions like they’re on the left side of the field when normally they’re on the right, so some of those instincts of knowing where your teammates are gets lost in the shuffle."

The Spartans look ahead to Illinois for their last home game of the regular season on Sunday.