Ball State University Athletics
Field Hockey Picked Second In MAC Preseason Poll
August 17, 2007 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The 2007 Ball State field hockey team has been picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference by the league's coaches, as announced Friday by the conference office.
Ball State is coming off its best league campaign since 1999 after recording a 6-4 MAC record and a second-place conference finish in 2006. The Cardinals advanced to the MAC Tournament championship game before falling in overtime to conference champion Ohio.
In the preseason poll, the league's coaches selected the Bobcats to defend their regular season title and picked them as the favorite to repeat as MAC Tournament champions.
Ball State returns 12 letterwinners and seven starters from its 2006 team, including two-time All-MAC Second Team selection Lauren Cruz. Fellow senior Katie Kloeckener is the Cardinals' top returning scorer after logging four goals and an assist a season ago.
In the 25-year history of MAC field hockey, Ball State has collected 16 regular season championships and 10 conference tournament titles.
The 2007 Cardinals open the season Aug. 25 at Villanova and return to Muncie for the home-opener Aug. 31 against Louisville.
2007 MAC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Ohio
2. Ball State
3. Central Michigan
4. Kent State
5. Miami
6. Missouri State
MAC Tournament Winner: Ohio
