Ball State University Athletics
Soccer Opens 2011 Season At WKU Tournament
August 18, 2011 | Soccer
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State soccer team opens the 2011 regular season this weekend as it takes part in the Western Kentucky Tournament in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Cardinals will face Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State Friday at 5 p.m. (CT) before meeting host and Sun Belt Conference member Western Kentucky Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (CT).
"We are excited to finally get the season underway," second-year head coach Craig Roberts said. "The players have worked really hard in the preseason in all aspects of the game to prepare ourselves for the season. We are ready to get going and are excited to compete in the 2011 season opener this weekend."
The Cardinals return 18 letterwinners from last season's 7-10-2 campaign in Roberts' inaugural season and welcome in 12 freshmen to the squad. Ball State already boasted a strong victory this season as it defeated Big East foe Cincinnati 1-0 in an exhibition contest in the first ever game played at the Briner Sports Complex.
The Cardinals used the freshmen class to score the game's lone goal as 2010 Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year Hannah Chadick (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) found the back of the net on the game's first shot in the 14th minute of play. Classmate and Czech Republic National Team member Pavla Benýrová (Prague, Czech Republic/Gymnasium Prague 9) dished out the game's lone assist to lead the Cardinals to victory.
Ball State is led by returning leading scorer Sarah Orisich (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) who tallied 10 points last season on the strength of four goals and two assists. Orisich and junior defender Brigit Reder (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West) are the Cardinals' two captains for the 2011 season, after playing in all but one game last season.
Murray State is coming off of a 4-12-4 record last season and returns eight letterwinners from last year's squad. The Racers have played two exhibition games this season earning a 5-0 victory over Bethel and suffering a 1-0 loss to Chattanooga. Murray State is led by Sophie Hergraves who scored a team-high six goals last season. The Cardinals and Racers will be meeting for their second time as Ball State earned a 6-1 victory in 2000.
Western Kentucky returns 23 letterwinners from last season's 9-8-3 team, including leading scorer Mallory Outerbridge who tallied 10 goals last year. The Hilltoppers are led by goalkeeper Libby Stout who holds the WKU records for shutouts and goals against average. Western Kentucky posted a 1-0 victory over Evansville in its lone exhibition contest as Lindsay Williams scored the game's long goal. This marks the second straight season the Cardinals and Hilltoppers have met as Ball State posted a 1-0 victory last season on the road on the strength of Orisich's game-winning goal.
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