A sense of urgency yet confidence characterizes the Wisconsin men’s soccer team as it travels to East Lansing, Mich. to take on No. 21 Michigan State Sunday.

The 1-8-2 Badgers emphasized proper training, focus, attention to detail and defensive principles during its full week of practice between Big Ten games. They will attempt to break their 10-game winless streak after falling 3-2 to Michigan in its last outing.

“My expectation is that we are going to have success similar to what we did against Indiana,” assistant coach Keith Tiemeyer said.

Sunday’s game marks UW’s first Big Ten road game of the season, which senior tri-captain defender/midfielder Aaron Nichols believes will inspire the team.

“I think it will always motivate performance,” Nichols said. “Any time you get to play a Big Ten game, it’s a whole new level. I think this game is on the Big Ten Network, so that always increases the intensity and urgency to play. It’s something to look forward to.”

Tiemeyer highlighted that since Sunday’s game at MSU will be broadcasted on the Big Ten Network, players will have a chance to get extra rest to refocus and reenergize during the TV timeouts midway through each half.

Senior tri-captain Ryan Vint is expected to start the game in goal. He will be a good indicator of the team’s success because UW has matched Vint’s high performance level in games where Vint has played well.

“Ryan’s our starting captain goalkeeper,” Tiemeyer said. “He’s the guy who will be playing the majority of the games that are in Big Ten competition.”

However, it is the backline of defenders, Tiemeyer noted, who will have to be the strength of the team. Centerbacks Arnel Zahirovic and Kyle McCrudden will have to step up from their performance against Michigan when Wisconsin allowed three goals, which were almost impossible for Vint to stop.

The Badgers face another strong attacking unit in Michigan State, led by Domenic Barone, who has recorded five goals and two assists in just seven starts this season.

Other key offensive contributors for the Spartans include playmakers Spencer Thompson, with three goals and five assists and Cyrus Saydee, who has two goals and a team-leading six assists.

“You have to have good principles against those guys, you have to defend them one-on-one properly, [and] and you have to give proper cover,” Tiemeyer said. “You have to be prepared for their skill, for their energy [and] for their desire to get to the goal quickly.”

The team is addressing these factors by trying to improve its sense of enthusiasm, urgency and one-on-one defense. While these are common themes the coaching staff has been underscoring all year, they are also exactly what Wisconsin needs for motivation.

“Even though we haven’t won many games, we still play really good soccer,” freshman forward Chris Prince said. “We’ve had a lot of 1-0 losses and 2-1 losses, especially in overtime, so it’s not like our confidence is way down.”

The Badgers will also have to face one of the Big Ten’s elite goalkeepers in Avery Steinlage. Steinlage has allowed just 12 goals through 11 games and has saved 82 percent of opponents’ shots this season.

Prince seemed unfazed by Steinlage’s statistics.

“I feel like our goalie Ryan Vint [is] a good goalie, and we go against him everyday in practice, so I don’t know how much better he can be than Ryan,” Prince said. “As long as we put the ball in the right spots and get a good shot off on goal, I see no worries.”

Additionally, Nichols added the physical battles on 50-50 balls would be another key aspect in Sunday’s match. If UW can win the competitive headers and early tackles, it will send a strong statement to the Spartans and could get them to play more conservatively.

Consistency the entire 90 minutes of the game will also be integral for the Badgers, who have looked impressive in stretches of games but uninspired and lackluster in others.

“I think it’s going to be giving that consistent performance all the way through. In other games there has always been some sort of mistake,” Nichols said. “We just have to limit some little mistakes that have cost us some goals. It’s going to take a good overall defensive performance because they are a very, very good attacking team.”