Ball State University Athletics
Soccer Hosts Miami in MAC Quarterfinals on Sunday
October 28, 2006 | Soccer
Today's Game . . .
The top seeded Cardinals begin the Mid-American Conference Tournament at home as they host eighth seeded Miami in the quarterfinals. The Cardinals earned their first ever Mid-American Conference regular season championship on Thursday afternoon with a 4-2 victory over the RedHawks in the season finale.
This is the first time in program history that the Cardinals have faced a team in back-to-back games.
Radio Broadcast . . .
Today's game will be broadcast on WCRD 91.3 FM and will also be available online at www.ballstatesports.com. The broadcast is the second straight for WCRD this season.
MAC Tournament History . . .
The Cardinals have qualified for the Mid-American Conference Tournament for the sixth straight season. Ball State has hosted a game in the tournament for the third time in program history, including the second straight season.
The Cardinals advanced to the MAC semifinals once in program history during the 2002 season.
2005 (0-1)
Kent State at Ball State
T, 0-0 (L, 3-1 pk)
2004 (0-1)
Ball State at Central Michigan
T, 2-2 (L, 4-3 pk)
2003 (0-1)
Central Michigan at Ball State
L, 2-0
2002 (1-1)
Western Michigan at Ball State
W, 3-1
Ball State at Ohio
L, 1-0
2001 (0-1)
Ball State at Ohio
L, 2-1
Series History . . .
Today's game is the ninth meeting all-time between Ball State and Miami and the second game in the last four days. The series has been evenly matched since its inception with the Cardinals owning a slim 4-3-1 mark against the RedHawks. The Cardinals though, have won the last four meetings in the series including a 4-2 victory on Thursday afternoon.
Seniors Sarah Maxwell and Vandi Ogden scored the first two goals of the afternoon versus the RedHawks on senior day. Sophomores Annie Aiello and Emily Rein closed out the scoring for the Cardinals who clinched the MAC regular season title with the win. Defender Lindsay Martin notched two assists in the game and has dished out five in the last four games.
About the Cardinals . . .
The Cardinals come into today's action with a 13-3-3 record on the season and are the number one seed in the MAC Tournament. The Cardinals lead the MAC in scoring with 38 goals this season while they are third in the conference in goals allowed at 20.
Forward Emily Rein leads the team in scoring as she is fourth in the MAC with 20 points (eight goals, four assists). Senior midfielder Amy Holst is second on the team and is tied for the conference lead with nine goals this season. The Cardinals also lead the conference in assists with 34 on the season as six different players have dished out four or more helpers this year.
About the RedHawks . . .
Miami enters the game with a 7-9-2 record overall and is the eighth seed in the MAC Tournament. The RedHawks closed out the season with two straight losses including Thursday's loss to the Cardinals.
Miami is led by forward Kathleen Vistica who is first in the MAC with 24 points on the season, including nine goals. Goalkeeper Krista Pace is seventh in the conference with a 1.31 goals against average this season.
Moving on Up . . .
The Cardinals enter the MAC Tournament with a 13-3-3 record on the season. The 13 victories this season are the third most in a single season at BSU trailing only 14 wins in 2002 and 15 victories last season.
Regional Buzz . . .
The Cardinals have been ranked in the region numerous times this season by both Soccerbuzz.com and the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA). The Cardinals enter this week ranked 11th in the Great Lakes Region by Soccerbuzz.com and are receiving votes in the NSCAA Great Lakes Region Poll. They are the only Mid-American Conference team represented in the region in either poll.
Preseason Prognosticators . . .
Ball State was picked to finish tied for seventh in the MAC in the preseason poll but proved pollsters wrong by claiming the MAC regular season title. The Cardinals were not the only team to prove voters wrong this season as Ohio was picked ninth and finished in second. Also, Western Michigan was picked to finish second and finished 12th.
MAC Stats . . .
The Cardinals can be seen near the top of most statistical categories in the latest Mid-American Conference release. The Cardinals are among the top three in nine of the 14 team statistical categories, including the top mark in seven categories. BSU leads the league in shots per game (16.42), points (5.79), goals (38), goals per game (2.00), assists (34), assists per game (1.79) and corner kicks (126).
The Cardinals also have three players in the top seven in scoring in the MAC. Emily Rein is fourth in the conference in points at 20 and is fifth in the conference in goals with eight. Amy Holst is first in the MAC in goals with nine this season while she is fifth in the conference in points at 18. Lindsay Martin and Sarah Schumacker are tied for sixth in the MAC in assists with five apiece. Goalkeeper Rachael Murphy is third in the MAC with a 1.00 goals against average.
Rein Earns MAC Honor . . .
Sophomore forward Emily Rein was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week earlier this year after leading the Cardinals to two road victories at Bowling Green and Toledo.
Rein, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, notched both game-winning goals on the weekend. She scored an unassisted goal against Bowling Green in the 24th minute that snapped a 900-plus minute BGSU shutout streak and tallied another unassisted goal in the 50th minute of the Toledo victory.
Fast MAC Starts . . .
The Cardinals are the only team in the MAC to win their first four games of the season. The 4-0-0 start to MAC play is the best start for the Cardinals in program history. Last season, Ball State opened the season 3-1-0 as did the 2002 team.
New Face at the Front . . .
Ball State first-year head coach Michelle Salmon picked up her first victory with the Cardinals in her first game when BSU downed IPFW, 5-1. The Cardinals are off to a 12-3-3 record under Salmon as she now boasts a 59-56-11 overall career coaching record.
Salmon joins the Cardinals staff after spending the past six seasons at the helm of UMBC. She compiled a 46-53-8 record with the Retrievers before coming to Muncie.
Looking Ahead . . .
The Cardinals will host the semifinals and the finals of the Mid-American Conference tournament with a victory this afternoon as they MAC's number one seed.
The winner of today's quarterfinal game will face off against the winner of Toledo and Bowling Green in the MAC semifinals.
