Ball State University Athletics
Field Hockey Faces No. 20 Michigan On The Road
September 12, 2009 | Field Hockey
THE LAST MEETING: The Cardinals suffered a 4-3 loss in last season's matchup, despite scoring three goals in the first period against the then-No. 15 Wolverines. All three goal scorers for Ball State (Caitlin Maguire, Brittany Hammer and Hannah Jones) have returned this season.
CARDINALS IN THE RANKINGS: The Cardinals currently rank first in the conference in shots per game with 19.5. Jones and Brooke MacGillivary are in a three-way tie for third in total shots. While Kent State's Debbie Bell has tallied five goals in five games, Jones leads all scorers with 3.67 points per game and in goals with five in three games. MacGillivary ranks fifth in the conference in points per game at 1.5.
ABOUT MICHIGAN: The Wolverines are winless after facing top-ranked opponents No. 4 North Carolina and No. 2 Wake Forest, losing 1-2 in each game on neutral fields. Michigan has taken just nine shots compared to the 41 from the opponents. Alicia Mayer and Meredith Way are the lone goal scorers.
The team posted an 8-12 overall record in 2008, tying for fifth in the Big Ten Conference with a 3-3 record. Prior to that, the Wolverines made it to the NCAA tournament eight times in the last nine years, while earning four Big Ten Conference Tournament titles. Michigan owns the all-time series record against Ball State 11-5.
COMING UP: Ball State will play at Miami Univeristy in the Cardinal's Mid-American Conference opener at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The team challenges No. 18 Indiana for its last of a seven-game road stretch 1 p.m. Saturday. The Cardinals will then host Ohio State for their home opener 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
