Ball State University Athletics
Field Hockey Opens Season On The Road At Davidson
August 28, 2009 | Field Hockey
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State field hockey team opens the 2009 season with a two-game stretch in North Carolina beginning 1:30 Saturday against Davidson followed by a matchup against Appalachian State 11 a.m. Sunday.
Ball State returns 16 letterwinners from last year's 2-17 team. The Cardinals are highlighted by junior forward Brooke MacGillivary (North Vancouver, B.C./Carson Graham) who earned Second Team All-Mid-American Conference honors last season, as well as sophomore forward Brittany Hammer (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy). Hammer led the 2008 team in scoring with six goals and three assists while MacGillivary added one goal and three assists. Sophomore midfielder Caitlin Maguire (Louisville, Ky./Presentation Academy) also sparked the Cardinal's offense by combining for three goals in two games last season.
Junior defender Elizabeth Blaum (Wilkes Barre, Pa./Wyoming Seminary College Prep.) remains one of Ball State's top defenders, starting all 29 games in her career. She tallied four defensive saves last season and scored the game winning goal against Missouri State October 19 off a penalty corner. Junior goalkeeper Tiffany Shifflett (Yorktown, Va./Hampton Roads Academy) recorded 117 saves in 1228:33 minutes of action, saving eight or more goals in six games.
The Cardinals also welcome freshman Devon Bell (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), Leann Carroll (Birdsboro, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy), Morgan Hammer (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel Area), Marisa Weachter (Manheim, Pa. /Manheim Central) to the 2009 roster.
Saturday's game is the second meeting all-time between the Cardinals and Davidson, with Ball State winning the matchup last season 2-0 in the Miami Kickoff Classic. Sunday's game marks the first meeting all-time between Ball State and Appalachian State. Davidson finished the 2008 season with an 8-14 record, winning five of its last seven games, while Appalachian State is coming off a 2-17 record.
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