Due to this high seed, MSU will have the opportunity to play their first elimination game of the national tournament boosted by the home crowd in East Lansing. They will also have the opportunity to host the second and third round at DeMartin if they make it out of the first round, for the first time in program history.

This is the fourth consecutive year the Spartans have secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament, furthering a record set last season. This will be MSU’s eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, half of which have come under head coach Jeff Hosler. 

"We’re so thrilled with the seed," Hosler said. "It's ideal because if we find ourselves in the second weekend, we get to play right here at DeMartin."

The Spartans have advanced past the second round just twice, falling in the Sweet 16 in each of the past two seasons. Teams that make it through the first four rounds will advance to the College Cup, which will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, from Dec. 5-8.

It's not just the home crowd advantage that could prove vital for MSU on their quest to making history — it's the simple aspect of being home. 

"Sleeping in our own beds is huge," graduate midfielder Reagan Dalton said. "Vibes are high, we can set the stage better and there are no bumps in the road."

The Spartans have a 12-3-6 record — 7-1-4 in Big Ten play. They have been ranked in the top 25 since the beginning of October, rising to No. 9 – where they sit now – at their best. MSU was ranked at No. 12 in preseason polls.

In such a competitive Big Ten conference, nine teams will compete in the NCAA Tournament as both seeded teams and at-large selections. 

"It’s really cool to see all the Big Ten teams," junior midfielder Bella Najera said. "I think already playing those teams as well as the teams on our side of the bracket really helps us out because we know we have the confidence to play them and beat them. I think it's a really great advantage for us."

MSU drew a familiar first-round opponent in Milwaukee, a team the Spartans annihilated 9-0 in the preseason but that have not lost since August. While that could give them confidence heading into the tournament, Hosler emphasized how much can change in just a few months.

"Rewiring our group knowing that this will be a totally different matchup will be a challenge," Hosler said. "They’re in the NCAA Tournament every year. They're made for this."

The Spartans will have a chance to not only play at the highest level in their last shot at a trophy for the season, but to do it at home — making it all the more special.

"We're gonna need the Spartan community to show out," Hosler said. "It's an opportunity to showcase to the country what we're all about."