Hoosiers ready to stomp Spartans

The women's soccer team gets back to Big Ten action against Michigan State (7-1-1, 2-1-0) Sunday after a non-conference match-up with in-state rivals Butler Thursday. \nThe Hoosiers (6-3, 1-3) are looking to continue the momentum they built with a dramatic win against Ohio State Sunday in Columbus, and get back to the top of the Big Ten. To do so, IU must defeat a tough Spartan squad without the help of starters Kate Kastl, a sophomore forward, and senior backs Jena Kluska and Kendal Willis. One bright note for IU is that freshman goalkeeper Shaunna Daugherty will be ready to go Sunday after sitting out last Sunday's matchup.\nTo come out on top, IU is going to have to match a Spartan defense that has only allowed seven goals and an offense that has scored 17 goals all season. Standing in the goal for the Spartans is senior goalie Sara Kloosterman. Last year, Kloosterman led the Big Ten with 120 saves and already has 52 saves in nine games this season.\n"They're always well organized," coach Joe Kelley said. "They're athletic; they have a very good goalkeeper and they're playing with a lot of confidence right now. They're a very tough team. Sarah (Kloosterman) is a very good goalkeeper. She's on a roll right now."\nTo keep the Spartans' high-scoring offense at bay, the Hoosiers need to control the tempo through the midfield and not allow MSU scoring opportunities. The Spartans have been outshot in every game this season, so they are making the shots they take count.\n"All week in practice we have been working on staying compact on defense and working hard on defense so we can control the offensive end," sophomore midfielder Emily Markwell said. "As long as we do that, we can also shut them down."\nNot only will they have to shut down the Spartan offense, IU must attack a defense that has allowed less than one goal a game. To pick up the offense, IU is going to a three-forward system in hopes of penetrating their opponent's defense.\n"I think the extra pressure is going to help us a lot to get more scoring," senior forward Wendy Graves said. "We scored three goals on Sunday (against Ohio State), so it's helped us a lot."\nAs a Michigan native, Graves knows a lot of players on their squad. \n"I'm excited for it," Graves said. I'll talk to a lot of the players but I just want to beat Michigan State. I'm ready to play them."\nMichigan State is making the Indiana road trip this weekend with a game against Purdue Friday and then one at home Sunday. The Spartans are also coming off their first loss of the season to Big Ten rival Illinois. Despite all that, Kelley said he doesn't see how that gives the Hoosiers any advantage.\n"They're going to have a tough game Friday at Purdue," Kelley said. "And in the Big Ten, I don't think there is any advantage or disadvantage in catching a team here or there. We're just going to have to do our job and if we do, we'll be fine."\nKelley said he also hopes IU will remain energized from last weekend's comeback against Ohio State and continue their climb back to the top of the conference.\n"They should be inspired every game," Kelley said. "That's the way we have to look at it and that's the way we've approached it this whole year. Each game is just one at a time. We're inspired right now for Butler and then we'll be inspired for Michigan State"