MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State soccer team wraps up play in the 2008 spring season this weekend as the Cardinals travel to Illinois Saturday at 2 p.m. before hosting their annual Alumni Game Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the BSU Soccer Field. Sunday's game will mark the first home event for the Cardinals' first-year head coach Michael Lovett.
The Cardinals are 3-0-1 so far this spring season and have not allowed a goal against in the spring. The Cardinals have out-scored their opponents 5-0 through the first four games of the spring.
Ball State's defense ranked at the top of the Mid-American Conference last year as it allowed just 13 goals against in 20 contests. Goalkeeper Amy Cleeter (Aurora, Ind./South Dearborn) has been in goal during the first four games of spring practice as she is filling in for All-MAC goalkeeper Rachael Murphy (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) who has been out due to injury.
Ball State opened spring play with a 1-0-1 mark at the Xavier Spring Tournament. The Cardinals posted a 2-0 victory over Indianapolis in Lovett's first game on the sidelines before playing to a scoreless tie against host Xavier. Rising seniors Emily Rein (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) and Annie Aiello (Granger, Ind./Penn) both notched goals against the Greyhounds.
The Cardinals picked up their second win of the spring at the annual Spring Fling host by St. Francis (Ind.) to support the Vera Bradley Foundation. Ball State took home a 2-0 victory over Oakland in the Fling's final contest of the weekend. Midfielder Katelyn Alexander (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) tallied a goal in her hometown while Rein picked up her second goal of the spring.
The Cardinals added another spring victory last weekend when they traveled to Dayton, Ohio and defeated Wright State, 1-0. Forward Megan Ridley (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central) scored the lone goal for the Cardinals in the victory.
Saturday's contest against Illinois will be Ball State's final road game of the spring. The Illini have a 4-1-1 record this spring and have won four straight games heading into the meeting. Illinois has picked up victories against the Mexican National Team, Illinois State, Eastern Illinois and most recently against Missouri.
Sunday's game will be the first contest for the Cardinals at the BSU Soccer Field since posting an 8-1-2 mark at home last fall. Last year, the Cardinals took home a 3-1 victory over the Alumni in the 70-minute contest.
Spring Soccer Results (3-0-1)
Ball State 2, Indianapolis 0 (Goals ? Emily Rein and Annie Aiello)
Ball State 0, Xavier 0
Ball State 2, Oakland 0 (Goals ? Katelyn Alexander and Emily Rein)
Ball State 1, Wright State 0 (Goal ? Megan Ridley)
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